Opinion

Pensioners are skipping showers and cutting back on food as millions face poverty
Joanna Elson

Pensioners are skipping showers and cutting back on food as millions face poverty

Joanna Elson, chief executive of Independent Age, writes about how the UK government could bring down the numbers of pensioners living in poverty
The curse of Oxford on our political life
John Bird

The curse of Oxford on our political life

How the groundbreaking Crisis and Resilience Fund can help end the need for food banks
A person buying products at a social supermarket at the Spring Community Hub.
Sabine Goodwin

How the groundbreaking Crisis and Resilience Fund can help end the need for food banks

It's a critical moment for millions of Brits living in fuel poverty in desperately cold homes this winter
Simon Francis

It's a critical moment for millions of Brits living in fuel poverty in desperately cold homes this winter

The dehumanising narratives around benefits need to stop in 2026 – for all our sakes
Ruth Patrick

The dehumanising narratives around benefits need to stop in 2026 – for all our sakes

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Labour's child poverty strategy is a real step forward, but it can't be the last word
Keir Starmer at a children's centre as the government laid out its plan to reduce child poverty.
Scott Compton

Labour's child poverty strategy is a real step forward, but it can't be the last word

Labour's £9.1bn inheritance tax raid is a missed opportunity to break the cycle of deprivation
Chancellor Rachel Reeves
Gavin Oldham

Labour's £9.1bn inheritance tax raid is a missed opportunity to break the cycle of deprivation

Every child deserves the chance to dream, learn and play – without poverty holding them back
A group of children sitting on a bench together.
Lynn Perry

Every child deserves the chance to dream, learn and play – without poverty holding them back

Scrapping the two-child limit was just the start. The child poverty strategy has to go further
A stock image of a mother and two children. Image: Unsplash
Thea Jaffe

Scrapping the two-child limit was just the start. The child poverty strategy has to go further

How scrapping the two-child benefit cap could stop divorcing families sliding into poverty
kate daly
Kate Daly

How scrapping the two-child benefit cap could stop divorcing families sliding into poverty

'Benefits Street' is a devastatingly low blow for children living in poverty in the UK
Benefits street headlines in tabloids
Joseph Howes

'Benefits Street' is a devastatingly low blow for children living in poverty in the UK

Reeves' budget offers positive steps for those struggling with debts – but there's still a way to go
rachel reeves
Vikki Brownridge

Reeves' budget offers positive steps for those struggling with debts – but there's still a way to go

Reeves' budget does nothing for families with disabled children like mine. I dread the future
Lorraine Griffin and her sons Sam and Ben.
Lorraine Griffin

Reeves' budget does nothing for families with disabled children like mine. I dread the future

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

Scotland's social security system treated me better as a disabled person. DWP must take notes
Caroline Cawley is a co-production partner at Turn2Us.
Caroline Cawley

Scotland's social security system treated me better as a disabled person. DWP must take notes

Millions of Brits are struggling with council tax debt. The autumn budget must bring reforms
Anny Cullum and Toby Murray

Millions of Brits are struggling with council tax debt. The autumn budget must bring reforms

Families have hope for the first time this budget. Anything other than bold moves will let them down
Chancellor Rachel Reeves hosting the child poverty taskforce on 12 November.
Moazzam Malik

Families have hope for the first time this budget. Anything other than bold moves will let them down

Britain's cruel war on single mums must end. It's time to scrap the two-child limit and benefit cap
ruth talbot
Ruth Talbot

Britain's cruel war on single mums must end. It's time to scrap the two-child limit and benefit cap

The two-child benefit cap inflicts suffering on the UK's children. Labour must scrap it
Sam Richards and her son
Sam Richards

The two-child benefit cap inflicts suffering on the UK's children. Labour must scrap it

I'm a working mum earning a decent salary – but the two-child limit on benefits hits my family too
Thea Jaffe alongside her three kids.
Thea Jaffe

I'm a working mum earning a decent salary – but the two-child limit on benefits hits my family too

What we have learned after 15 years of universal credit – and what must change
jobcentre plus/ dwp
Lucy Bannister

What we have learned after 15 years of universal credit – and what must change

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Universal credit flaws are driving people to food banks. It's time it covered the essentials
A Trussell food bank worker sorting food parcels
Ayaz Manji

Universal credit flaws are driving people to food banks. It's time it covered the essentials

15 years on, it's time we made universal credit the game changer it can be 
Then prime minister David Cameron and his chancellor George Osborne.
Iain Porter

15 years on, it's time we made universal credit the game changer it can be 

Benefit cap puts single mothers like me at risk of homelessness and destitution
clare bowen
Clare Bowen

Benefit cap puts single mothers like me at risk of homelessness and destitution

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