John Bird

Founder of the Big Issue warns “poverty is destroying” Britain as he celebrates 80th birthday
Our campaigns

Founder of the Big Issue warns “poverty is destroying” Britain as he celebrates 80th birthday

Big Issue founder Lord John Bird: My 80th birthday message
John Bird

Big Issue founder Lord John Bird: My 80th birthday message

The Big Issue founder looks at a changed London as he reaches a milestone. And his message for readers is: Always take your copy when you buy Big Issue magazine

‘Poverty destroys us’: Big Issue founder John Bird urges Labour to set targets to end child poverty
Child poverty

‘Poverty destroys us’: Big Issue founder John Bird urges Labour to set targets to end child poverty

Lord John Bird received backing from peers as he tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which would set legally-binding targets to hold the government to account on reducing child poverty

Reform and the anti-immigration lobby need a history lesson 
John Bird

Reform and the anti-immigration lobby need a history lesson 

I’m turning 80. My birthday wish? Take the Big Issue when you buy
John Bird

I’m turning 80. My birthday wish? Take the Big Issue when you buy

Advertisement
This is why Big Issue is ripe for reinvention
John Bird

This is why Big Issue is ripe for reinvention

Letters: Grok isn’t the problem. Men are the problem
Letters

Letters: Grok isn’t the problem. Men are the problem

The curse of Oxford on our political life
John Bird

The curse of Oxford on our political life

Big Issue founder renews calls for child poverty targets: ‘I am gifting the government a chance’
Child poverty

Big Issue founder renews calls for child poverty targets: ‘I am gifting the government a chance’

The Man with the Plan is an urgent film for our desperate times
John Bird

The Man with the Plan is an urgent film for our desperate times

Where JMW Turner wears me out, John Constable restores me
John Bird

Where JMW Turner wears me out, John Constable restores me

Yo-yo homes, 10Foot and autism assessments: This is how Big Issue made change in 2025
Our journalism

Yo-yo homes, 10Foot and autism assessments: This is how Big Issue made change in 2025

Jordan North and William Hanson on why you should always take your Big Issue: ‘It’s a bloody good read’
Big Issue

Jordan North and William Hanson on why you should always take your Big Issue: ‘It’s a bloody good read’

I love to paint, but it can’t cut me off from the world entirely
John Bird

I love to paint, but it can’t cut me off from the world entirely

Want a reason to be cheerful? Across Europe there are people trying to do the same thing as Big Issue
John Bird

Want a reason to be cheerful? Across Europe there are people trying to do the same thing as Big Issue

Letters: I don’t even know Fairytale of New York
Letters

Letters: I don’t even know Fairytale of New York

I’ve written a Jane Austen spinoff for my 80th birthday. Help me sell a million copies
John Bird

I’ve written a Jane Austen spinoff for my 80th birthday. Help me sell a million copies

As a child in poverty, the institutional food I was served saved my life. Today’s kids need the same
John Bird

As a child in poverty, the institutional food I was served saved my life. Today’s kids need the same

Politics needs someone tough to sort out the mess. Louise Casey is just the person for the job
John Bird

Politics needs someone tough to sort out the mess. Louise Casey is just the person for the job

Big Issue leads call for the government to set targets to end child poverty in upcoming strategy
Child poverty

Big Issue leads call for the government to set targets to end child poverty in upcoming strategy

Westminster must set ambitious, measurable targets to reduce child poverty
Child poverty

Westminster must set ambitious, measurable targets to reduce child poverty

Advertisement
The number of homeless deaths is an entirely preventable tragedy. What are we doing?
John Bird

The number of homeless deaths is an entirely preventable tragedy. What are we doing?

Big Issue Invest more than triples investments in 20th year, with £9.4 million deployed to social purpose organisations
Big Issue Invest

Big Issue Invest more than triples investments in 20th year, with £9.4 million deployed to social purpose organisations

Marmot principles should be applied to government departments for ending poverty
John Bird

Marmot principles should be applied to government departments for ending poverty

The only way forward is to split the poverty atom
John Bird

The only way forward is to split the poverty atom