Today, we speak to Lord John Bird, the co-founder of the Big Issue magazine and anti-poverty campaigner. Lord Bird was born into poverty and spent time rough sleeping before starting the Big Issue in 1991. In 2015 he was appointed a crossbench People’s Peer. Adam talks to Lord Bird about growing up in poverty, the impact prison had on his life and how the Big Issue continues to support people who are vulnerably housed and homeless. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Gemma Roper. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.
BBC sounds music radio podcasts.
Hello.
For the next few Sundays, newscast is experimenting with, as we call them in the trade, long form interviews or what you and I would call a big long chat with somebody interesting.
Today's episode is with Lord Byrd, John Bird, who in 1991 set up the big issue which is still being sold by homeless people on the streets of the UK today.
And in 2015 he was made a so called people's peer.
In other words, he was selected from interesting people to get a seat in the House of Lords.
And he is an interesting person.
A very colorful backstory that involves stints in prison and growing up in poverty.
And poverty is kind of what he's made his life's mission.
And for years and years he's been trying to convince governments of all sorts of different political stripes that they should set up a big anti poverty initiative because he feels that is the biggest challenge facing the country and that's how you could change people's lives.
So that is what you will hear and a whole lot more in this episode of Lord Bird.
On newscast.
Newscast.
Newscast from the BBC.
Lord Bird, hello.
Hello.
How do you feel about being called Lord?
First of all, I have no problem with it because it surprisingly in the political field I have to work in.
If I was just John Byrd, then people wouldn't kind of talk to you.
And even though most people have reservations about the House of Lords, they know that there are certain people in the House of Lords who are quite useful socially.