Advertisement
Housing

Have your say: Big Issue editor to host homelessness hustings in Cities of London and Westminster

Big Issue editor Paul McNamee will host a hustings on homelessness in the electorate, giving members of the public the opportunity to quiz candidates

The Cities of London and Westminster electorate is one of the safest Tory seats in the UK. It also has a homelessness problem with one of the highest concentrations of rough sleepers in the country.

As the general election looms, candidates for the seat are vying for voter attention. But what do they have to say about this most pressing of issues?

On Thursday (27 June), you have a chance to find out. Big Issue editor Paul McNamee will host a hustings on homelessness in the electorate, giving members of the public the opportunity to quiz candidates.

Conservative hopeful Tim Barnes will attend, as will Labour’s Rachel Blake, Edward Lucas for the Liberal Democrats, Tim Hallett representing the Modern Evolutionary Democracy Party, Reform UK’s Tarun Ghulati and John Generic, who is standing as an independent.

The hustings has been organised by The Connection at St Martin’s, a leading charity who help people who are rough sleeping to move away from, and stay off, the streets of London.

The issue couldn’t be more pressing. Rough sleeping rose by 27% in 2023 and 60% over the past two years. Meanwhile a record number of people, including over 145,000 children are currently experiencing homelessness, trapped living in temporary accommodation, often in squalid and overcrowded conditions.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

More than 1,500 private renters evicted by their landlord were forced to sleep on the streets of London last year, official statistics released this week show.

The hustings will be held on Thursday 27 June at 7pm at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Tickets are available here.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us moreBig Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

SIGN THE PETITION

Will you sign Big Issue's petition to ask Keir Starmer to pass a Poverty Zero law? It's time to hold government to account on poverty once and for all.

Recommended for you

Read All
Labour wants to build 300,000 affordable and social homes in 10 years. But is it enough?
Labour housing secretary Angela Rayner
Social housing

Labour wants to build 300,000 affordable and social homes in 10 years. But is it enough?

Rough sleeping in London hits record high amid warnings of benefit cuts making things worse
a homeless man sitting on the street with his dog
Rough sleeping

Rough sleeping in London hits record high amid warnings of benefit cuts making things worse

Tory MP Robert Jenrick says mass migration to blame for rising rents. Here's what he's not telling you
Conservative MP Robert Jenrick
RENTING

Tory MP Robert Jenrick says mass migration to blame for rising rents. Here's what he's not telling you

Huge student blocks are transforming city skylines. But is there a darker motive behind the boom?
Student accommodation

Huge student blocks are transforming city skylines. But is there a darker motive behind the boom?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue