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
'You can hear your stomach growling': Kids call on next government to do more to end child poverty
child pvoerty/ dennis and hanna
General election 2024

'You can hear your stomach growling': Kids call on next government to do more to end child poverty

Emilia Clarke feared being fired from Game of Thrones after brain injury
emilia clarke
Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke feared being fired from Game of Thrones after brain injury

Nearly half of brain injury survivors claim benefits – without enough support to get back to work
brain injuries
Employment

Nearly half of brain injury survivors claim benefits – without enough support to get back to work

Disability and work: Why the next government must show compassion and reform the benefits system
disability benefits protest
Disability benefits

Disability and work: Why the next government must show compassion and reform the benefits system

DWP universal credit increase 2024 – everything benefit claimants need to know
universal credit/ money
Universal credit

DWP universal credit increase 2024 – everything benefit claimants need to know

Why DWP urgently needs to make universal credit enough so people can afford the essentials
universal credit essentials guarantee/ supermarket
Universal credit

Why DWP urgently needs to make universal credit enough so people can afford the essentials

Universal credit claimants lose more than £1bn a year to 'automatic DWP deductions'
universal credit/ debtor
Department for Work and Pensions

Universal credit claimants lose more than £1bn a year to 'automatic DWP deductions'

Period poverty: Homeless women forced to steal tampons or use old clothes as period products
period/ homelessness
Homelessness

Period poverty: Homeless women forced to steal tampons or use old clothes as period products

Dignified quality of life or gaslighting? Tories' 'triple lock plus' pension pledge divides voters
pensioner
General election 2024

Dignified quality of life or gaslighting? Tories' 'triple lock plus' pension pledge divides voters

Energy bills are set to fall but UK families have already lost £72bn to 'staggering' prices
energy bills
Energy bills

Energy bills are set to fall but UK families have already lost £72bn to 'staggering' prices

Poverty costs the UK billions each year. Politicians must commit to ending it this general election
Trussell Trust food banks
General election 2024

Poverty costs the UK billions each year. Politicians must commit to ending it this general election

Sunak calls general election for 4 July: 'It's time to put a limping government out of its misery'
General election 2024

Sunak calls general election for 4 July: 'It's time to put a limping government out of its misery'