Andy Burnham Purchases The Big Issue in Manchester

July 21, 2023

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On Thursday 20 July, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham donned a Big Issue tabard and joined veteran vendor Colin outside HOME in Manchester city centre to gain an insight into what it’s like to be a Big Issue vendor and earn a living.

Burnham is the cover star of this week’s Big Issue magazine across the north of England and sold the magazine alongside Colin to show his support for his local vendor.

The Big Issue magazine has been sold across the UK since May, with vendors buying the magazines for £2 and selling them on for £4. Customers can also subscribe with a vendor online, providing a vital additional source of regular income.

Speaking about the experience, 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 has been selling the magazine since 2010 after living in a Salvation Army hostel in Birmingham. He spoke about the experience of showing the Manchester mayor what it’s like to be in a vendor’s shoes.

“It’s nice to have the support of the Mayor of Greater Manchester; we have a good chat,” he said.

In an exclusive interview with The Big Issue in this week’s magazine, the Manchester mayor 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.

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.

“I’m just really proud to be on the front [of the magazine] and to support Colin and everything that he does. A lot of people like to stop to chat to Colin and he’s a really friendly face around the city. He really adds something to Greater Manchester and we’re really proud of him.”

On Thursday 20 July, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham joined veteran Big Issue vendor Colin outside HOME in Manchester city centre to gain an insight into what it’s like to be a Big Issue vendor.

Burnham, who is the cover star of this week’s Big Issue magazine across the north of England, donned the iconic red tabard to show his support for his local vendor.

The Big Issue magazine has been sold across the UK since May and provides a means for vendors to earn an income by buying magazines for £2 and selling them on for £4. Customers can also subscribe with a vendor online, providing a vital additional source of regular income.

Colin, who has been selling the magazine since 2010 after living in a Salvation Army hostel in Birmingham, spoke about the experience of showing the Manchester mayor what it’s like to be in a vendor’s shoes.

“It’s nice to have the support of the Mayor of Greater Manchester; we have a good chat,” he said.

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.

On Thursday 20 July, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham spent time with veteran Big Issue vendor Colin outside HOME in Manchester city centre to gain an insight into what it

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