On Thursday 20 July, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham tried his hand at selling the Big Issue magazine alongside veteran vendor Colin outside HOME in Manchester city centre. Burnham was the cover star of this week’s Big Issue magazine across the north of England and joined Colin on his pitch to support his local vendor.
The Big Issue magazine has been sold across the UK since May following Big Issue North’s decision to cease publication of its magazine in the north of England. Vendors buy magazines for £2 and sell them on for £4. Customers can also subscribe with a vendor online, which provides a vital additional source of regular income.
Burnham said: “I’m out here showing Colin I support him and supporting The Big Issue more broadly, everything it stands for, everything it’s done, everything it’s achieved. A lot of people in Greater Manchester are fully behind it and we always will be.”
Colin, who was living in a Salvation Army hostel in Birmingham when he first started selling the magazine to earn an income, moved to Manchester in 2010 and has been selling the magazine in the city ever since. He said it was a good experience to show the Manchester mayor what it’s like to be in a vendor’s shoes.
In a recent interview with The Big Issue, Burnham reflected on his previous encounters selling The Big Issue before the pandemic. “I learned a lot,” he said. “It’s a street level insight into the world of people and it could be any of us, couldn’t it? Because of the way life is nowadays.”
Thursday’s spell in the iconic red tabard was the first time the Manchester mayor had sold the magazine while his face was on the cover. Burnham said: “It’s not the easiest to be honest, I’ve just bought one off Colin to give to my mum. It’s not easy because I think people are doing a bit of a double take at times. It’s a bit of an odd thing to do.”
On Thursday 20 July, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, donned a red Big Issue tabard to gain an insight into what it’s like to be a vendor. Selling alongside veteran vendor Colin outside HOME in Manchester city centre, Burnham is the cover star of this week’s Big Issue magazine across the north of England and joined Colin on his pitch to support his local vendor.
The Big Issue magazine has been sold across the UK since May following Big Issue North’s decision to cease publication of its magazine in the north of England. Vendors buy magazines for £2 and sell them on for £4. Customers can also subscribe with a vendor online, which provides a vital additional source of regular income.
Burnham said: “I’m out here showing Colin I support him and supporting The Big Issue more broadly, everything it stands for, everything it’s done, everything it’s achieved. A lot of people in Greater Manchester are fully behind it and we always will be.”
Colin, who was living in a Salvation Army hostel in Birmingham when he first started selling the magazine to earn an income, moved to Manchester in 2010 and has been selling the magazine in the city ever since. He said it was a good experience to show the Manchester mayor what it’s like to be in a vendor’s shoes.
In an exclusive interview with The Big Issue in this week’s magazine, Burnham speaks out on his efforts to tackle homelessness across Greater Manchester, as well as Prince William’s own homelessness campaign and moving beyond the culture wars that have polluted political debate in Westminster. He also reflects on his previous encounters selling The Big Issue before the pandemic.
Thursday’s spell in the iconic red tabard was the first time the Manchester mayor had sold the magazine while his face was on the cover. Burnham said: “It’s not the easiest to be honest, I’ve just bought one off Colin to give to my mum. It’s not easy because I think people are doing a bit of a double take at times. It’s a bit of an odd thing to do.”
On Thursday 20 July, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham took part in an eye-opening experience by joining veteran Big Issue vendor Colin outside HOME in Manchester city centre to sell the magazine. As the cover star of this week’s Big Issue magazine across the north of England, Burnham was keen to support Colin and understand what it’s like to earn a living as a vendor.
The Big Issue magazine has been
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.