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Prince William selling the Big Issue

(179 Posts)
Rosie51 Thu 09-Jun-22 13:04:08

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61747092

I wonder if he was expecting to get recognised, most people don't exactly study Big Issue sellers.

Grany Thu 09-Jun-22 15:28:00

He was 'spotted' ?

In this era of social media, I'm afraid the Royals cannot rely on media spin doctors to help craft good PR campaigns anymore. People are able to draw their own conclusions, and I reckon that partly reflects why younger people are disenchanted with Monarchy than older people

Next is Edward helping in Nando's and Andy in Pizza Express.

volver Thu 09-Jun-22 15:19:41

Form an orderly queue ladies...

Urmstongran Thu 09-Jun-22 15:11:58

I believe that selling the BI means you can claim to be self employed and are then entitled to Working Tax Credits etc. Just a con IMHO to enable the pocketing of tax payers money for the great contribution to the economy of hanging around for a few hours.

I’m happy to be corrected if I’m wrong?

Zonne Thu 09-Jun-22 14:44:53

Urmstongran

The Big Issue lost its way long long ago in being a leg up for homeless.

It’s now a cartel run by Romanian Roma as a way to access the housing benefits system. ‘Work’ 16 hours a week = opens the doors to claiming benefits. There are better charities he could have publicised.

You do talk some rot.
In fact 56% of Big Issue sellers are Roma.

Another fact: non-British vendors are more likely to be homeless

And another: Roma vendors face significant levels of racist abuse. According to the Big Issue (who I think know better than you, frankly):
‘Often, the abuse stems not only from prejudices against Roma people but misconceptions about them selling the magazine – the most common being that Roma and non-British vendors are taking opportunities to become a vendor away from British people.

This is simply not the case. We have more pitches than we have vendors. Similarly, the money that vendors spend on magazines is reinvested in the service we provide. This means that nobody ever misses out on accessing our service, and the more magazines a vendor is able to buy, the more they are helping us to support them and any potential new vendors.’

Germanshepherdsmum Thu 09-Jun-22 14:44:50

I would rather listen to John Bird.

AreWeThereYet Thu 09-Jun-22 14:39:12

It’s now a cartel run by Romanian Roma as a way to access the housing benefits system.

According to Iain Duncan Smith. Not according to John Bird, the founder of Big Issue.

www.channel4.com/news/big-issue-founder-magazine-hand-up-not-hand-out-john-bird-iain-duncan-smith#:~:text=Of%20the%203%2C500%20vendors%20currently,and%20the%20remainder%20other%20nationalities.

Germanshepherdsmum Thu 09-Jun-22 14:38:06

Frequently.

volver Thu 09-Jun-22 14:35:58

Do you ever think people just post the most outrageous things to see how far they can push it, and to see if others will bite?

Germanshepherdsmum Thu 09-Jun-22 14:30:38

Where’s your evidence for that Urms?

Urmstongran Thu 09-Jun-22 14:28:28

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Cabbie21 Thu 09-Jun-22 14:20:17

From what I have read, it seems it was posted at the instigation of someone else, so not William’s PR team.

AreWeThereYet Thu 09-Jun-22 14:16:30

Prince William has been the patron of Centrepoint since the early 2000s but has been connected to other homeless charities for a long time. I'm sure both William and Kate are intelligent enough to know that they can't ever experience what it is like to be homeless, but maybe they want a feel for what it feels like to be standing in the street being ignored, as many are?

Urmstongran Thu 09-Jun-22 14:15:31

Thought the weekend went well, surprised Kate's kicked him out.

DiamondLily Thu 09-Jun-22 13:56:51

Looked like a publicity stunt that was staged.

volver Thu 09-Jun-22 13:56:33

Rosie51

volver I didn't wonder why he had no job, do try to keep your comments directed at the correct person. I merely corrected the idea that you have to be homeless to sell the Big Issue.

I have no feelings for W&K either way. As I've never met them I don't know if I'd like them or not. But I have a suspicion. Anyway, I know a PR stunt when I see one. would that be the same as the PR stunts H&M carry out?

So sorry, I'm doing this in between other stuff. Many apologies.

Germanshepherdsmum Thu 09-Jun-22 13:55:19

He’s patron of a charity for the homeless.

Rosie51 Thu 09-Jun-22 13:53:29

volver I didn't wonder why he had no job, do try to keep your comments directed at the correct person. I merely corrected the idea that you have to be homeless to sell the Big Issue.

I have no feelings for W&K either way. As I've never met them I don't know if I'd like them or not. But I have a suspicion. Anyway, I know a PR stunt when I see one. would that be the same as the PR stunts H&M carry out?

volver Thu 09-Jun-22 13:33:22

Right enough about the homeless bit. But its still their job and you were wondering why the person in your story hadn't found a job. Well he has a job, so your comment is wrong.

I have no feelings for W&K either way. As I've never met them I don't know if I'd like them or not. But I have a suspicion. Anyway, I know a PR stunt when I see one.

jacqrose Thu 09-Jun-22 13:31:52

Rosie51 seriously, why would a grown man take a photo from a distance of someone he thought was a celebrity?

Rosie51 Thu 09-Jun-22 13:29:43

You really don't like William (or Catherine) do you volver? Ever made comments like that about Harry or Meghan's 'good works'?

Incidentally there is no requirement to be homeless to sell the Big Issue.

volver Thu 09-Jun-22 13:27:01

Sorry - forgot to say.

Selling the Big Issue is their job.

volver Thu 09-Jun-22 13:25:17

Well that's a record. From Royalty to scroungers in just 4 posts.

Rosie51 Thu 09-Jun-22 13:25:14

Last post to jacqrose I hadn't refreshed the page.

Rosie51 Thu 09-Jun-22 13:24:26

Well I suppose if you think 'Retired Met Police Ch Supt Matthew Gardner' is telling bare faced lies about his brother-in-law...............

Elizabeth27 Thu 09-Jun-22 13:24:04

In the town nearest to me, there is a big issue seller that has been doing it for about 10 years. Most people give him money but do not take the magazine. He can afford to smoke and has the latest iPhone so does well from it. I often wonder why he has not just got a job in that time.