Brighton has traditionally had a liberal history towards beggars and if you can sanitise this town you can sanitise anywhere. The beggars of today are yesterday's children. For them there was no childline or Esther Rantzen but instead abuse in every part of society. No wonder so many turned to drink or drugs to null the pain.
The real hypocrites on the streets of Brighton are the young, trendy designer-clothed students who collect money for Save the Children, Action for the Blind and others. They get paid through an agency called Personal Fundraising Partnership at a rate of £6.50 a hour. They are hawkers and should be arrested. How much do the children they collect for get?
Big Issue vendors receive 60p of the £1 cover price of the magazine and should be congratulated, not denigrated.
-John Gouchy, Big Issue Vendor, C/O Big Issue Office, Queens Road, Brighton
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