John McDonnell fears ‘people will lose their lives’ if Labour cuts benefits in autumn budget
John McDonnell fears ‘people will lose their lives’ if Labour cuts benefits in autumn budget
John McDonnell was Jeremy Corbyn’s right-hand man and shadow chancellor between 2015 to 2020. He speaks exclusively to the Big Issue about his fears for the future of the country if the government makes cuts to welfare provision in the autumn budget
Carol Vorderman on voting Tory in 2010 – and regretting it: ‘I hadn’t got a clue what was coming’
Carol Vorderman on voting Tory in 2010 – and regretting it: ‘I hadn’t got a clue what was coming’
William Blake gave voice to the nation. The least we can do is save his cottage
William Blake gave voice to the nation. The least we can do is save his cottage
Top Stories
Council tax debt collectors ‘significantly harming’ health of those struggling to pay, report finds
Council tax debt collectors ‘significantly harming’ health of those struggling to pay, report finds
How Putin’s war in Ukraine has pushed millions into homelessness: ‘We must tackle this crisis’
How Putin’s war in Ukraine has pushed millions into homelessness: ‘We must tackle this crisis’
Inside the Big Issue: Carol Vorderman is still the voice of the opposition
Inside the Big Issue: Carol Vorderman is still the voice of the opposition
Letters: The tradies I know are out-earning uni graduates three times over
Letters: The tradies I know are out-earning uni graduates three times over
Welcome to Big Issue’s Big Community
Welcome to Big Issue’s Big Community
Big Issue’s Changemakers of 2025: Nominate a group or person making the world a better place
Big Issue’s Changemakers of 2025: Nominate a group or person making the world a better place
Advice
Lodger rights: Everything you need to know
Lodger rights: Everything you need to know
Getting a lodger: How to get started
Getting a lodger: How to get started
What is a sitting tenant?
What is a sitting tenant?
Habitual residence test: How to get help with housing
Habitual residence test: How to get help with housing
Meet our vendors
Will Herbert, Budgens, Upper Street, Islington, London
Will Herbert, Budgens, Upper Street, Islington, London
Stuart Drucker, Roath Market (Saturdays) and Riverside Market (Sundays), Cardiff
Stuart Drucker, Roath Market (Saturdays) and Riverside Market (Sundays), Cardiff
Claude Williams, Sainsbury’s, Harbourside, Bristol
Claude Williams, Sainsbury’s, Harbourside, Bristol
Matthew Campbell, Kennington Lane Tesco, Vauxhall, London
Matthew Campbell, Kennington Lane Tesco, Vauxhall, London
Vendor news
Danny Dyer on fame, therapy and working-class people in politics: ‘We need a f**king leader’
Danny Dyer on fame, therapy and working-class people in politics: ‘We need a f**king leader’
Husband and wife Big Issue vendors: ‘Just treat people how you want to be treated’
Husband and wife Big Issue vendors: ‘Just treat people how you want to be treated’
Danny Dyer: ‘I don’t trust Keir Starmer. Why Angela Rayner’s not leading things I don’t know’
Danny Dyer: ‘I don’t trust Keir Starmer. Why Angela Rayner’s not leading things I don’t know’
Former vendor Earl John Charlton returns to his old pitch as Big Issue arrives in Newcastle
Former vendor Earl John Charlton returns to his old pitch as Big Issue arrives in Newcastle
Opinion
William Blake gave voice to the nation. The least we can do is save his cottage
William Blake gave voice to the nation. The least we can do is save his cottage
Yes, live music can change your life
Yes, live music can change your life
Starmer’s first 100 days sees the UK in Bizarro World. Is this really the change people voted for?
Starmer’s first 100 days sees the UK in Bizarro World. Is this really the change people voted for?
Will Labour’s employment and renting reform bills finally end millennials’ insecurity?
Will Labour’s employment and renting reform bills finally end millennials’ insecurity?
Newsletters
Sign up to Working On It: The Big Issue newsletter about making work better
Sign up to Working On It: The Big Issue newsletter about making work better
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter with human stories at the heart
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter with human stories at the heart
Sign up to Inside Big Issue to get the scoop on the latest magazine
Sign up to Inside Big Issue to get the scoop on the latest magazine
Culture
This Country’s Charlie Cooper: ‘We don’t have much pride in being English’
This Country’s Charlie Cooper: ‘We don’t have much pride in being English’
The writer and star of This Country’s new series explores the mysterious phenomena which inform a sense of Britishness
When theatres emptied during the pandemic, I had to make my own
When theatres emptied during the pandemic, I had to make my own
Singer and TV star Daniel O’Donnell: ‘I don’t want yesterday back – I love today’
Singer and TV star Daniel O’Donnell: ‘I don’t want yesterday back – I love today’
Letter To My Younger Self
Singer and TV star Daniel O’Donnell: ‘I don’t want yesterday back – I love today’
Singer and TV star Daniel O’Donnell: ‘I don’t want yesterday back – I love today’
Author Matt Haig: ‘I was a teenage shoplifter. In my foolish brain I was a kind of Robin Hood’
Author Matt Haig: ‘I was a teenage shoplifter. In my foolish brain I was a kind of Robin Hood’
Actor Adam Pearson: ‘I wake up every morning, let the universe kick my arse and then carry on’
Actor Adam Pearson: ‘I wake up every morning, let the universe kick my arse and then carry on’
Nadhim Zahawi: ‘The line between being on the street and being chancellor is very, very slim’
Nadhim Zahawi: ‘The line between being on the street and being chancellor is very, very slim’
Most popular
The inside story of how Tony Blair’s New Labour all-but ended rough sleeping
The inside story of how Tony Blair’s New Labour all-but ended rough sleeping
Should care experience be a protected characteristic? Care leavers speak out on status debate
Should care experience be a protected characteristic? Care leavers speak out on status debate
Domestic abuse soars by 38% when England lose. This Euros, we need change
Domestic abuse soars by 38% when England lose. This Euros, we need change
Count Binface: ‘The British people will be watching you, Keir Starmer’
Count Binface: ‘The British people will be watching you, Keir Starmer’
Life
Letters: The tradies I know are out-earning uni graduates three times over
Letters: The tradies I know are out-earning uni graduates three times over
Letters: Keir Starmer, please keep our loved ones warm this winter
Letters: Keir Starmer, please keep our loved ones warm this winter
The Routemaster bus is 70 – but its enduring appeal is timeless
The Routemaster bus is 70 – but its enduring appeal is timeless
One million people in England who weren’t smokers now vape – but it’s not as alarming as it sounds
One million people in England who weren’t smokers now vape – but it’s not as alarming as it sounds
Inside The Big Issue
Inside the Big Issue: Carol Vorderman is still the voice of the opposition
Inside the Big Issue: Carol Vorderman is still the voice of the opposition
Husband and wife Big Issue vendors: ‘Just treat people how you want to be treated’
Husband and wife Big Issue vendors: ‘Just treat people how you want to be treated’
Inside the Big Issue: Danny Dyer has issues – big ones
Inside the Big Issue: Danny Dyer has issues – big ones
Big Issue Community Roadshow arrives in Newcastle – with Womble in tow