Big Issue boss joins the Lords

BIG Issue founder John Bird is to join the House of Lords as one of four new non-party political peers.

The homelessness campaigner was among those selected by the House of Lords Appointments Commission to sit on the crossbenches.

Joining him in the upper chamber are engineer and academic Julia King, the vice chancellor of Aston University, civil engineer Robert Mair and Mary Watkins, professor of nursing and currently Emeritus Professor of Healthcare leadership at Plymouth University.

Mr Bird, who set up the magazine in 1991 as a way for the homeless to earn their own money, said he hoped to inject some new ideas into policy making.

He said: “Mine will be a voice in the legislative process for the thousands of people The Big Issue has helped over the past 24 years and continues to help today through our philosophy of social entrepreneurialism based on self-help.”

BLOODY GREAT: Casey with cast in ‘violent and sexy’ movie

“Still though, there’s a lot of sex and violence in the film.”

Casey claimed to have been left feeling “gutted and used” by 24-year-old rugger star Joseph after he kept his long-term girlfriend a secret from her.

But despite her recent heartbreak, Casey will have plenty of ways to take her mind off the drama as she gets ready to promote her upcoming flick.

Bonded By Blood 2 is based on Bernard O’Mahoney’s book titled Essex Boys: The New Generation.

After three top members of the Essex Boys firm are murdered, there is a void left behind with multiple competitors clashing in a bid to take advantage of it.

The sequel to the 2010 release Bonded By Blood also stars EastEnders actor Sam Strike and blonde beauty Dani Dyer – the daughter of Danny Dyer.