Pippa Crerar

Since the Labour party won the 2024 general election, Pippa Crerar has consistently held power to account, breaking agenda-setting stories and adroitly analysing the new political landscape.

Crerar was first to reveal the government was planning a U-turn on cutting winter fuel payments, a defining moment in Starmer’s early premiership. While Downing Street denied the plans, Crerar continued her dogged reporting and almost two weeks later, the move was confirmed. 

Crerar revealed the government was planning to delay its child poverty strategy and decision on the two-child benefit cap. And she was first to report on growing unrest inside the Labour Party over plans for disability benefit cuts, revealing that Starmer was offering MPs concessions to avoid a Commons defeat.

After the welfare row, Crerar broke news that Rachel Reeves was planning to increase taxes in the Budget, building on earlier Treasury scoops such as the Chancellor’s plan to change her fiscal rules.

Crearar has travelled with Starmer to Washington and Europe, and to Ukraine with the foreign secretary. She broke news of cuts to the international aid budget, reporting that international development minister Anneliese Dodds was set to quit. And she revealed that Starmer was coming under pressure from cabinet ministers to recognise Palestinian statehood.

Judges’ comments: “A constant thorn in the government's side, this entry is a particularly impressive example of holding power to account in the name of informing the public rather than serving a political agenda.”