With 20 years at The Guardian’s Money desk, Brignall specializes in decoding financial systems for everyday consumers. His work spans three core areas:
Brignall seeks stories that:
Notable Impact: His 2023 investigation into parking app enforcement practices led to revised industry guidelines on space allocation terminology.
We’ve followed Miles Brignall’s two-decade career as a stalwart consumer champion at The Guardian, where he’s become synonymous with practical financial guidance. Starting as a specialist in consumer rights, Brignall expanded his remit to address evolving challenges in personal finance, real estate, and automotive sectors. His work consistently bridges the gap between regulatory frameworks and everyday financial decisions.
This investigation exposed systemic flaws in private parking enforcement through a case study of JustPark’s ambiguous spot allocation. Brignall combined user testimonials with legal analysis to demonstrate how vague terminology in parking apps leads to unfair penalties. The article prompted regulatory reviews of private parking contracts and increased pressure for standardized terminology in the sector.
Brignall distilled decades of consumer advocacy into actionable advice, covering everything from challenging unfair bank charges to navigating energy bill disputes. The piece stands out for its preventive approach, teaching readers to identify red flags in financial agreements. Its lasting impact is evident through continued citation in financial literacy programs.
This exposé revealed loopholes in travel insurance policies through a case where Lloyds denied coverage due to technicalities in policy wording. Brignall’s analysis of insurance contract language led to broader industry discussions about transparency in exclusion clauses.
Brignall’s coverage of electric vehicles consistently emphasizes practical affordability over technological specs. His analysis of secondhand EV markets demonstrates interest in accessible green transitions. Pitches should highlight cost-benefit analyses for average families, like his piece tracking 3-year ownership costs of used Nissan Leafs.
Unlike macroeconomic real estate analysts, Brignall focuses on transactional friction points. Successful pitches mirror his investigation into leasehold disputes, which combined case studies with regulatory history. Emphasize human angles in property law conflicts, particularly those affecting first-time buyers.
Brignall prioritizes concrete examples of policy wording affecting payouts. His Lloyds insurance analysis shows value in comparing contractual language across providers. Pitch comparative studies of exclusion clauses in home/car insurance with clear consumer impact metrics.
With 18% of his output addressing banking issues, focus on procedural fairness in overdraft charges or mortgage approvals. His methodology often involves testing bank claims against FCA guidelines through real application processes.
Brignall’s solar panel ROI analysis demonstrates interest in tangible consumer savings. Successful pitches quantify payback periods under different usage scenarios or expose hidden costs in renewable subsidies.
While Brignall maintains a low public profile, industry peers frequently cite his work in financial conduct authority consultations. His 2023 series on predatory car finance practices informed the FCA’s updated consumer credit guidelines. The lack of formal awards underscores his focus on policy impact over personal accolades.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Personal Finance, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
