Isabella McRae
Isabella McRae is a senior reporter at The Big Issue. She reports on a wide range of issues across social affairs and culture. Isabella was awarded Best News Story at the Anti-Slavery Day Awards in 2025. She was also 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. Get in touch with Isabella through isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com
How to get school uniforms on a budget in 2025
school uniform illustration
School uniforms

How to get school uniforms on a budget in 2025

Can people actually self-diagnose with mental illness and claim disability benefits?
Tony Blair
Benefits

Can people actually self-diagnose with mental illness and claim disability benefits?

'Rushed implementation' of AI in DWP benefits system could 'harm' people, experts fear
Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits University College London East as part of the AI Opportunities Action Plan.
Department for Work and Pensions

'Rushed implementation' of AI in DWP benefits system could 'harm' people, experts fear

Retailers warn there's 'little hope of prices going anywhere but up' – while they make huge profits
woman shopping
Cost of living crisis

Retailers warn there's 'little hope of prices going anywhere but up' – while they make huge profits

'I didn't see a future': Trans veteran forced to hide true self for decades under armed forces 'gay ban'
caroline paige, transgender fighter pilot
LGBTQ+ veterans

'I didn't see a future': Trans veteran forced to hide true self for decades under armed forces 'gay ban'

Disability benefit reforms and universal credit rise: All the DWP benefit changes to expect in 2025
DWP secretary Liz Kendall on the left and Keir Starmer on the right chatting with pensioners
Department for Work and Pensions

Disability benefit reforms and universal credit rise: All the DWP benefit changes to expect in 2025

Emmerdale star talks taking on a father's agony in missing person story: 'I hope it makes people think'
Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle, in Emmerdale. Image: ITV
Emmerdale

Emmerdale star talks taking on a father's agony in missing person story: 'I hope it makes people think'

'I have patients in pain waiting years': Healthcare workers 'cautious' about Labour's NHS plans
nhs workers protesting
NHS

'I have patients in pain waiting years': Healthcare workers 'cautious' about Labour's NHS plans

Energy bills expected to rise again in April – and it could be 'soul destroying' for struggling families
person sat on bed in dark room worrying
Energy bills

Energy bills expected to rise again in April – and it could be 'soul destroying' for struggling families

Labour must clamp down on 'mega-donors' like Elon Musk influencing UK politics, experts warn
Elon Musk
Politics

Labour must clamp down on 'mega-donors' like Elon Musk influencing UK politics, experts warn

'Flooding can break people': This woman channelled her fears of extreme weather to help thousands
flood mary
Climate crisis

'Flooding can break people': This woman channelled her fears of extreme weather to help thousands

Dodgy landlords, DWP misery and our brilliant vendors: This is how Big Issue changed lives in 2024
big issue
2024

Dodgy landlords, DWP misery and our brilliant vendors: This is how Big Issue changed lives in 2024