Aberdeen vendor shares fears over M&S closure with local MP: “She’s in our corner”

MP for Aberdeen North Kirsty Blackman sat down with Big Issue vendor Pamela Milac on Monday (17^th February) to discuss what more needs to be done for people struggling to make ends meet in her constituency and across the wider UK.

23-year-old Milac started selling the Big Issue outside Marks and Spencer in St Nicholas Street a few years ago after she struggled to juggle her old job as a waitress and raising her one-year-old son. But now, with the M&S set to close in the coming months, Milac has shared her fears that city centre footfall will drop and her sales will suffer as a result.

Kirsty Blackman – who is the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Women & Equalities spokesperson for the SNP – met with Milac and Big Issue support worker Chris Luby at the Big Issue’s distribution point in Aberdeen Methodist Church on Monday.

They discussed what more the government can do for local people being forced to cut back on essentials in the face of sky-rocketing rents and growing bills.

In Aberdeen North, more than 1 in 5 (21%) children live in poverty. Since 2014, the constituency has seen a shocking 86% increase in child poverty. ^[1]

Blackman has shown her support for the Big Issue’s ‘Poverty Zero’ campaign, calling for the government to set legally binding poverty reduction targets to combat the current poverty crisis, which has seen destitution double in the UK since 2017. The Big Issue argues that these targets would force Westminster to prioritise action on poverty and enable campaigners to hold the government to account.

As with Net Zero, the current and future leaders of the UK would be committed by law to these targets. Governments would have to publish plans to show how they would meet them, and if the plan wasn’t sufficient, they could be challenged in court.

Kirsty Blackman, MP for Aberdeen North, said: “It’s been really interesting learning about the support the Big Issue provides for people. Obviously the cost of living is a massive problem, it’s difficult for all of us, but Big Issue sellers have been particularly affected.

“Here in Aberdeen, the Marks and the Spencer’s closing down is another really big problem. We’re working hard on trying to get them to retain it, but I don’t think there’s a huge amount of hope, unfortunately.

“It was also good to learn more about Poverty Zero and how it could hold the government’s feet to the fire on poverty reduction measures. With every single thing that they do, every single decision that they make, surely there can’t be anything more important than lifting people out of poverty.”

Big Issue vendor Pamela Milac said: “Meeting Kirsty was great, she really listened when I told her how difficult it is to manage bills that keep going up, and how worried I am about Marks and Spencer closing, because that’s where I sell the magazine.

“I was pleased she’s already written to M&S about keeping our branch open. And although I’m not sure the government can be persuaded to offer more help with the cost of living, I like that Kirsty is going to try.”

Chris Luby, Big Issue support worker in Aberdeen, added: “The cost-of-living crisis has really hit our vendors in Aberdeen. They work hard to earn the money they make selling the magazine, but now it doesn’t go nearly as far. Vendors are having to work longer hours to cover winter heating bills and pay their rents, which is tough in this weather.

“It means a lot that Kirsty took the time to meet with us today, and agrees that the government needs to do more to support local people who are struggling to keep their heads above water. It’s a comfort to know she’s in our corner, speaking up for an end to poverty and inequality.”

To find out more about the Big Issue’s Poverty Zero campaign, visit bigissue.com/campaigns.

[1] Children in low income families: local area statistics, published by gov.uk on 26 March 2020 and last updated on 13 December 2024