The Conservatives want to cut housing benefit to fund defence spending. But will it work?
The Conservatives want to cut housing benefit to fund defence spending. But will it work?
Kemi Badenoch has announced plans to raise £10bn a year in defence spending paid for welfare cuts. Experts warn it will mean a costly rise in homelessness
Do food banks need to exist until we end hunger? We’d rather live in a Food Bank Free Britain
Do food banks need to exist until we end hunger? We’d rather live in a Food Bank Free Britain
David Baddiel: ‘My worst moment was telling my dad my mum died. I had to tell him again and again’
David Baddiel: ‘My worst moment was telling my dad my mum died. I had to tell him again and again’
Top Stories
Hundreds of ex-rugby players with brain injury demand answers: ‘One hit could kill them’
Hundreds of ex-rugby players with brain injury demand answers: ‘One hit could kill them’
Tony Christie: ‘I need an autocue now, but show me an artist my age that doesn’t!’
Tony Christie: ‘I need an autocue now, but show me an artist my age that doesn’t!’
Inside the Big Issue: Paste Present Future: The art of protest
Inside the Big Issue: Paste Present Future: The art of protest
I took a walk where I grew up in London. I saw how gentrification has damaged the community
I took a walk where I grew up in London. I saw how gentrification has damaged the community
‘RIP Jane. You’ve been a fixture of everyday Wimbledon life forever’
‘RIP Jane. You’ve been a fixture of everyday Wimbledon life forever’
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Advice
More children will get free school meals from September 2026. Here’s what you need to know
More children will get free school meals from September 2026. Here’s what you need to know
Mr MoneyJar on the pros and cons of using AI as your financial adviser
Mr MoneyJar on the pros and cons of using AI as your financial adviser
31 places where kids can eat for free or £1 over the summer holiday
31 places where kids can eat for free or £1 over the summer holiday
Debt is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s time to end the stigma so people can get the help they need
Debt is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s time to end the stigma so people can get the help they need
Meet our vendors
Robin Price, Co-op, Pembrokeshire: ‘It’s the longest job I’ve ever had. Without it, I’d be dead’
Robin Price, Co-op, Pembrokeshire: ‘It’s the longest job I’ve ever had. Without it, I’d be dead’
Rodney Lyall, Southbourne Grove Post Office, Bournemouth: ‘Selling the Big Issue saved my life’
Rodney Lyall, Southbourne Grove Post Office, Bournemouth: ‘Selling the Big Issue saved my life’
Simon Denis, Pret A Manger, Cheapside, London: ‘I’d never dreamed that Big Issue could be profound’
Simon Denis, Pret A Manger, Cheapside, London: ‘I’d never dreamed that Big Issue could be profound’
Russell Trimby, John Lewis, Reading: ‘I look after my dad. He’s got dementia’
Russell Trimby, John Lewis, Reading: ‘I look after my dad. He’s got dementia’
Vendor news
Big Issue vendors react to Andy Burnham’s rough sleeping pledge: ‘It would mean the world’
Big Issue vendors react to Andy Burnham’s rough sleeping pledge: ‘It would mean the world’
‘RIP Jane. You’ve been a fixture of everyday Wimbledon life forever’
‘RIP Jane. You’ve been a fixture of everyday Wimbledon life forever’
Heatwaves hit Big Issue vendors’ sales: ‘Selling in the hot weather can be the worst time’
Heatwaves hit Big Issue vendors’ sales: ‘Selling in the hot weather can be the worst time’
Farewell to much-loved Wimbledon ‘local landmark’ and Big Issue vendor Jane Burns
Farewell to much-loved Wimbledon ‘local landmark’ and Big Issue vendor Jane Burns
Opinion
We are paying for the climate crisis with lives and homes. The Nepal-Tibet floods must spark action
We are paying for the climate crisis with lives and homes. The Nepal-Tibet floods must spark action
I took a walk where I grew up in London. I saw how gentrification has damaged the community
I took a walk where I grew up in London. I saw how gentrification has damaged the community
I was homeless as a child. I know what Andy Burnham needs to do to end rough sleeping for good
I was homeless as a child. I know what Andy Burnham needs to do to end rough sleeping for good
Newsletters
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter
Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter
Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter
Culture
See the protest art hitting London’s streets to mark Big Issue’s 35th birthday
See the protest art hitting London’s streets to mark Big Issue’s 35th birthday
To celebrate Big Issue’s 35th birthday, a new exhibition continues the long tradition of protest art as a catalyst for conversation and change
Tony Christie: ‘I need an autocue now, but show me an artist my age that doesn’t!’
Tony Christie: ‘I need an autocue now, but show me an artist my age that doesn’t!’
The Odyssey star Himesh Patel: ‘Child poverty is inexcusable in a country such as ours’
The Odyssey star Himesh Patel: ‘Child poverty is inexcusable in a country such as ours’
Letter To My Younger Self
Natalie Imbruglia: ‘Becoming a star is not going to feel the way you think it’s going to feel’
Natalie Imbruglia: ‘Becoming a star is not going to feel the way you think it’s going to feel’
Wrestling legend Mick Foley: ‘You need to tell people you love them before it’s too late’
Wrestling legend Mick Foley: ‘You need to tell people you love them before it’s too late’
The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue: ‘I needed spiritual guidance when Mark died’
The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue: ‘I needed spiritual guidance when Mark died’
Beth Orton: ‘Women are reinventing what it means to exist in the world’
Beth Orton: ‘Women are reinventing what it means to exist in the world’
Most popular
‘Explain to me why I’m homeless’: Rough sleeper’s rage tells us a lot about what’s keeping people homeless
‘Explain to me why I’m homeless’: Rough sleeper’s rage tells us a lot about what’s keeping people homeless
‘Frustrated, angry, exhausted’: Food banks forced to ‘throw out food donated by supermarkets’
‘Frustrated, angry, exhausted’: Food banks forced to ‘throw out food donated by supermarkets’
Disabled woman forced to quit job she loves after DWP support slashed: ‘I can’t make it make sense’
Disabled woman forced to quit job she loves after DWP support slashed: ‘I can’t make it make sense’
‘It’s devastating’: UK’s biggest companies locking autistic people out of jobs with personality tests
‘It’s devastating’: UK’s biggest companies locking autistic people out of jobs with personality tests
Life
‘I was diagnosed with a rare dementia that affects my vision. I turned it into an art project’
‘I was diagnosed with a rare dementia that affects my vision. I turned it into an art project’
Meet the people with Alzheimer’s and their families coming together in a dementia run club
Meet the people with Alzheimer’s and their families coming together in a dementia run club
Researchers are doing incredible work to find a cure for dementia – but more funding is vital
Researchers are doing incredible work to find a cure for dementia – but more funding is vital
Inside The Big Issue
Inside the Big Issue: Paste Present Future: The art of protest
Inside the Big Issue: Paste Present Future: The art of protest
Inside the Big Issue: 128 days to end rough sleeping
Inside the Big Issue: 128 days to end rough sleeping
Inside the Big Issue: Amelia Dimoldenberg’s opportunity issue