Opinion

What is it that makes life worth living?
Dr King-Ho Leung and Professor Bobby Duffy

What is it that makes life worth living?

For every person who experiences profound thankfulness for being alive, there’s another who never feels it at all
In this moment of geopolitical sword-dancing, words matter more than ever
Paul McNamee

In this moment of geopolitical sword-dancing, words matter more than ever

Only investment at the next budget will turn Scottish housing rights into housing reality
Margaret-Ann Brünjes

Only investment at the next budget will turn Scottish housing rights into housing reality

Top Stories

I’m a survivor of female genital mutilation. We must get serious about ending this practice
Valerie Lolomari

I’m a survivor of female genital mutilation. We must get serious about ending this practice

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

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Political opinion

View all
Disabled people faced a politically tumultuous 2025. What does next year have in store?
Disabled sign
Mikey Erhardt

Disabled people faced a politically tumultuous 2025. What does next year have in store?

Mikey Erhardt, of Disability Rights UK, writes about what must change in politics to build disabled people’s trust in 2026
2025 will not go down in history as the Year of the Starmer. Can he keep his job through 2026?
Tatton Spiller

2025 will not go down in history as the Year of the Starmer. Can he keep his job through 2026?

Labour’s veterans minister: How we’re tackling the ‘national shame’ of veteran homelessness
Louise Sandher-Jones
Louise Sandher-Jones

Labour’s veterans minister: How we’re tackling the ‘national shame’ of veteran homelessness

Homelessness

View all
Only investment at the next budget will turn Scottish housing rights into housing reality
Margaret-Ann Brünjes

Only investment at the next budget will turn Scottish housing rights into housing reality

The Trump administration has declared war on homelessness – the fightback starts now 
Patrick Markee

The Trump administration has declared war on homelessness – the fightback starts now 

We need a stepchange in how we deal with homelessness in 2026 so society can heal
Jess Turtle

We need a stepchange in how we deal with homelessness in 2026 so society can heal

Labour’s veterans minister: How we’re tackling the ‘national shame’ of veteran homelessness
Louise Sandher-Jones
Louise Sandher-Jones

Labour’s veterans minister: How we’re tackling the ‘national shame’ of veteran homelessness

Poverty

View all
It’s a critical moment for millions of Brits living in fuel poverty in desperately cold homes this winter
A house in the snow
Simon Francis

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

Since April the government has been dragging its feet on an official fuel poverty strategy, since a consultation ended almost ten months ago. It now faces an urgent decision on how to help Britain’s fuel poor as 12 million struggle with energy costs and 250,000 live in desperately cold conditions, writes Simon Francis
The dehumanising narratives around benefits need to stop in 2026 – for all our sakes
keir starmer at a changing realities meeting
Ruth Patrick

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

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

Sam Delaney

View all
Why I’m proud of myself for not buying a pair of corduroy trousers
Sam Delaney

Why I’m proud of myself for not buying a pair of corduroy trousers

My father-in-law Peter Pallai left me with a cast-iron template for growing older with style
Sam Delaney

My father-in-law Peter Pallai left me with a cast-iron template for growing older with style

I asked ChatGPT to rate my life choices. I didn’t like what it told me
Sam Delaney

I asked ChatGPT to rate my life choices. I didn’t like what it told me

Seeing your kid off to university is a joy – but we had some wobbles on the motorway
Sam Delaney

Seeing your kid off to university is a joy – but we had some wobbles on the motorway

John Bird

View all
Big Issue founder renews calls for child poverty targets: ‘I am gifting the government a chance’
Lord John Bird reads his Ministry for Poverty Prevention Bill in the House of Lords.
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

Paul McNamee

View all
In this moment of geopolitical sword-dancing, words matter more than ever
Paul McNamee

In this moment of geopolitical sword-dancing, words matter more than ever

Good news for those eating the last of the Christmas cheese
Paul McNamee

Good news for those eating the last of the Christmas cheese

From aubergines to data centres: Here’s what’s going to happen in 2026
Paul McNamee

From aubergines to data centres: Here’s what’s going to happen in 2026

Choose joy this Christmas
Paul McNamee

Choose joy this Christmas