Pretty sure Acas and the Equality Act of 2010 would support this gentleman under protected characteristics.
Christine Kirby
This is a devastating decision, so many capable people effectively removed from the employment pool. This just puts more people on out-of-work benefits!
Sarah Barker, Facebook
What was the point in this? It is impractical and cruel. It stops people going to work.
@politeextinction, Instagram
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Art of gold
Among the tributes paid to the centenarians in the recent edition, I was delighted to see the artist Rene Robbins celebrated. Her eye-catching art has long been a highlight of Big Issue so it was fascinating to read about her life and her passion to share her work with us. Long may she continue to create – and to inspire.
Belated birthday congratulations, Rene and very many happy returns.
Peter Pinto de Sa, Wood Green
100 reasons
A highlight of my week is reading my copy of Big Issue purchased from my seller in Coulsdon. I have told many people just how impressive your magazine is, but this week you have excelled yourself.
Waking up to the news of the triumph of racism and ignorance (how ironic on the anniversary of VE Day) this magazine with its 100 Club feature on those from David Attenborough to Marilyn Monroe is poignant enough, but to remind us all of those who went on strike 100 years ago in solidarity with their fellow humans, is the perfect counterpart to current events.
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Keep up the great work.
Jeremy Marsh
Access denied
The article by Josh Sandiford on accessibility depressed me because in 2026 it should never have had to be written. In the early 1980s I worked as one of only two full-time access officers in local government. There were many years of successes in improving the built environment for people with or without disabilities: dropped and textured kerbs, induction loops, level or ramped thresholds on new builds, ground-floor toilets in new houses. Yet despite legislation and supposedly greater awareness progress has stagnated.
I guess austerity killed off any remaining access officers.
Toni Bennett
Northern exposure
Over recent months, I have noticed a disappointing trend in the reporting of Big Issue, which mirrors a wider issue evident across many England based media outlets. As a proud Scot, it is frustrating to read articles that say something is happening “across the country”, when the issue relates to England, or England and Wales.
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For example, ‘School dinners shake up’ in issue 1714, refers to the government announcing plans to overhaul school meals. This policy does not apply in Scotland, where responsibility lies with the Scottish government.
While the Westminster government legislates for the UK in some areas, it also governs England directly in others. Conflating these distinctions risks misleading readers and overlooks the devolved powers of Scotland.
Mike Payne
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