My Vendor Gripe. By Wayne Barnes.

My Vendor Gripe.

By Wayne Barnes.

Edited By Uncle Monty.

Photos By Alex Albion.
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My vendor gripe concerns the Information

Touts: Personally, as someone who dispenses di-

rections for free I find the current vogue for selling

directions, in and around London’s Westminster,
reprehensible but can see that it is useful to mem-

bers of the public who are in a hurry as time is al-

most priceless. However, I feel that unlike The Big
Issue, which at least contributes some tax to the

Exchequer and employs over 100 staff, this

is an un-taxed form of begging.
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Perhaps, in view of the coming Olympics event, a

better image would be presented if it were handled

by a pool of charities or even, (bad taste in mouth),

a private company, Transport for London (TFL)
or the Mayor's Office.
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I will expand further on this to you, with a rough

calculation of revenue lost to the country. If the in-

come could be taxed it would be useful in these difficult

times. One of those touts makes at least £60,00 p.a.
(per annum) all spent on crack which was smuggled

in without duty. They scrounge and cadge any food,

the state pays for their rent! I find it reprehensible.

It is a closed cycle to the public good.
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I (also) feel that the influx of Eastern Europeans

and crack are both contributing factors in the

accelerated collapse of morality in our

beleaguered society.

...

Known as V288, Wayne Barnes is

a London badged Big Issue vender.

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Editor: If you have a gripe of any kind, please feel

free to send your full gripe for possible publication.

E-Mail: thebiggerissue@k.st

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Guess Who He Is?

Hint: He performed last night

in London to a sellout crowd!!

This morning he headed back

home to California, USA.

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