The Big Issue

The Big Issue is one of Britain’s leading news and cultural magazines. Every week’s edition is packed full of original takes on the biggest issues of the day as well as interviews with the most significant figures in politics and entertainment. The Big Issue was founded 1991 to give people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to earn their own income. We continue to support hundreds of vendors across the UK and all proceeds from sales go to help anyone wanting to lift themselves out of poverty.

Destination unknown

THE DISPATCH • News, views & miscellany

Widower of disabled woman in bitter, years-long legal battle after DWP denied him benefits

The Big Issue

EDITOR’S LETTER

YOUR LETTERS

BIRD’S WORDS

‘THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS STILL OPPRESSING THE MOST VULNERABLE’ GEORGE FLOYD – FIVE YEARS ON • The murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis sparked outrage and protests around the world. As a new documentary, Backlash: The Murder of George Floyd, looks back at a moment of global activism, we spoke to a protest organiser about her recollections, and asked an expert how we’ve ended up where we are now

AFTER BLM, THE FAR-RIGHT RESURGENCE WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

THE FIGHT IS HERE. THE FIGHT IS NOW. THE FIGHT GOES ON • Liberty took the government to court to defend the right to protest at the Court of Appeal this month – and won. It has big implications for protesters in the UK, including those who have already been jailed

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS, IF YOU ARE BLACK, YOU CAN’T POSSIBLY BE GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY THE PROMS • Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason lectured in English at the University of Birmingham before giving up her career to have children. All seven of her children – Isata, Braimah, Sheku, Konya, Jeneba, Aminata and Mariatu – are classically trained musicians. In 2016, cellist Sheku was named BBC Young Musician of the Year, the first black musician to win the award. His siblings all followed him into the spotlight, making the family an extraordinary success story, but they have been subjected to unrelenting racist abuse since coming to public notice. Two years ago, Kadiatu decided to do something about it.

PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS OF OUR TIME

‘I DON’T WANT EVERY CHARACTER TO BE DEFINED BY THEIR DEAFNESS’ • Rose Ayling-Ellis is taking over our televisions with four big shows this year – and taking on the responsibility to push for disability rights as the most famous deaf person in the country

MR ADDICTION (#1)

Letter to My Younger Self KIM WILDE • Growing up in a musical family, the singer knew the direction her life would take. She didn’t know she’d still be doing it at 64

The magick dance

Crime novels

Learnings from lockdown

The miracle of Mission: Impossible

DEBT OF NATURE

SAM DELANEY IS AT HOME

The music that kept London going, through blackouts and bombing

Alice Roberts • The academic, TV presenter and author found her life enriched by Countdown and Charles Darwin – but, sadly, has never got to be a horse

Puzzles

MY PITCH • Salisbury Library Monday-Saturday 9.30am-4pm