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Isabella McRae
Isabella McRae is associate editor at the Big Issue, where she specialises in coverage of the poverty and welfare system. She has interviewed prime ministers Andy Burnham and Sir Keir Starmer, written impactful series on the special education system, abortion rights and homelessness, led Big Issue takeovers by people with a learning disability, young people and people with Alzheimer's, as well as conducted many high-profile celebrity interviews. Isabella was awarded Best News Story at the Anti-Slavery Day Awards in 2025, was a winner of the PPA Next Gen Awards in 2023 (formerly known as the 30 under 30) and was shortlisted for journalist of the year in the Scope Disability Awards 2024. She also has an MA in Magazine Journalism at City, University of London. Get in touch with Isabella through isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com
How disused garages are being turned into affordable homes to tackle London's housing crisis
Designs demonstrating how Naked House turns disused garages into homes
Housing

How disused garages are being turned into affordable homes to tackle London's housing crisis

We're Not Buying It: Why thousands of people are threatening to boycott supermarkets for one day
we're not buying it campaign logo
Cost of living

We're Not Buying It: Why thousands of people are threatening to boycott supermarkets for one day

Young people still want a human to help them with debt advice. AI chatbots won't cut it
young person on phone
Money

Young people still want a human to help them with debt advice. AI chatbots won't cut it

Andy Burnham: 'I'm not naive. You can't say there will be nobody sleeping rough after Christmas'
Andy Burnham at Connection at St Martin-in-the-fields
Interview

Andy Burnham: 'I'm not naive. You can't say there will be nobody sleeping rough after Christmas'

What counting women sleeping rough in London taught me about Andy Burnham's homelessness promise
a woman sitting on the side of a road
Homelessness

What counting women sleeping rough in London taught me about Andy Burnham's homelessness promise

How Big Issue is holding Andy Burnham’s government to account on homelessness
Andy Burnham and the homelessness minister Florence Eshalomi
Isabella McRae

How Big Issue is holding Andy Burnham’s government to account on homelessness

We need you! Nominate who you think should be a Big Issue Changemaker in 2027
Some of our 2026 Changemakers.
News

We need you! Nominate who you think should be a Big Issue Changemaker in 2027

Fat Macy's: The training academy lifting young people out of homelessness and into hospitality jobs
A young person being trained in the kitchen at Fat Macy's
Employment

Fat Macy's: The training academy lifting young people out of homelessness and into hospitality jobs

The government wants you to buy tinned food to prepare for a crisis. What if you can't afford it?
images of fruit and vegetables on cans to showcase food poverty
Food

The government wants you to buy tinned food to prepare for a crisis. What if you can't afford it?

How will the government end rough sleeping? We asked the homelessness minister
Homelessness minister Florence Eshalomi and prime minister Andy Burnham.
Homelessness

How will the government end rough sleeping? We asked the homelessness minister

DWP rule change means people in temporary accommodation no longer lose money for working
a person working at a desk
Social Justice

DWP rule change means people in temporary accommodation no longer lose money for working

What could be in chancellor John Healey's autumn budget and what could it mean for you?
Chancellor John Healey delivering a 'growth speech'. at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry.
Politics

What could be in chancellor John Healey's autumn budget and what could it mean for you?