john bird

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/09/barabara-ellen-trudie-styler-big-issue

Dear Editor,

Barbara Ellen says if she was selling The Big Issue guest edited by Trudie Styler she might be tempted to burn them. Why? Because Ms Styler has 6 homes and has the temerity to be married to a famous man.

If Ms Ellen was forced by a change of circumstances to have to end up selling the Big Issue she would more than likely relish the chance to sell an issue full of well known contributors. Because, as has been proved Big Issue vendors income increases when the well connected get on board of The Big Issue. Of course Ms Ellen, in desperate circumstance might choose to beg to survive, or steal and get caught up with the police. Or even offer her body in return for money. But sure as eggs is eggs she would not choose the cavalier destruction of her only legitimate means of income.

Ms Ellen has actually missed the boat. The person who gave me, John –one home- Bird , the chance to start the Big Issue was a multi homed Gordon Roddick. Who with his wife Anita had not been homeless, ever. Should we have refused their multi homed support?

I appreciate the moral guidance, but please don’t demean those that have to live by their labours, and who have not the chance to make a funeral pyre out of their living. Please Ms Ellen don’t behave so spoilt by your choices and impose those on others who have none. They are there to make money, not to pass judgment on the over provided for.

John Bird, Founder, Editor in Chief,
The Big Issue.

The Big Issue 1-5 Wandsworth Road,
SW8.

Today’s Daily Mail has a story about Trudie Styler becoming guest editor of The Big Issue. It seems to have rattled this particular journalists cage, causing some sourness. The 6 times homed Trudie, with her husband Sting seem to be worth going on for nearly £200 million.

We asked Trudie to be guest editor because we know she is well connected and will bring some  big names to The Big Issue. Bringing big names means bigger sales, so therefore more income for homeless people.

The reporter did not refer to the last big, well housed guest editor David Cameron, or the big Christmas Issue featuring the many many times housed Prince William.

Nor did the writer refer to The Roddick family who gave me the money to start The Big Issue, who were not short of a few houses at the time.

I remember once having lunch with Lord Rothermere in his exclusive dining room to talk about helping me become London’s mayor. His family I believe own the Daily Mail and I know they are not homeless, nor have been for quite a while.

The problem seems to be that only presumably the mono-homed should be guest editors of The Big Issue, and only the mono-homed should put the money into starting The Big Issue.

I thought the Daily Mail was a firm defender of the many homed; the monarchy and the wealthy. As a mono-homist I have no envy of the multi homed. If they can help me in my work of helping the homeless to help themselves good. The ones who do not help me may they have dry rot in all their properties and have badgers dig up their croquet lawns.

Check out the article below – your thoughts?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046207/Stings-wife-Trudie-Styler-guest-edit-Big-Issue.html