Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas has tried her hand at selling the Big Issue in Brighton town centre, in celebration of the magazine's 20th birthday.

After an official induction and Big Issue code of conduct briefing, Ms Lucas was buddied up with a Brighton Big Issue vendor on Western Road and spent the afternoon putting her on-the-street sales techniques to the test.

The Pavilion MP follows in the footsteps of celebrity vendors Neil Morrissey, Aldo Zilli and Tom Rosenthal, who have all previously chosen to publicly demonstrate their recognition of the numerous obstacles Big Issue vendors must overcome to sell the magazine.

Caroline said: "I am delighted to be able to play a part in celebrating the 20^th birthday of the Big Issue by experiencing firsthand the work of a Vendor.

"The Big Issue has a proud history of providing homeless and vulnerably housed people with an invaluable opportunity to earn an income - and producing a good quality magazine which people want to read.

"Homelessness remains a significant problem in our city, as demand for affordable homes continues to far exceed supply, and for many, the Big Issue provides a crucial first step out of poverty."

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Big Issue is a social enterprise that exists to offer homeless, vulnerably housed and long-term unemployed people the opportunity to earn a legitimate income.

It produces a weekly entertainment and current affairs magazine which vendors buy for £1 and sell to the public for £2, keeping £1 for themselves. http://www.bigissue.com/