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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
Yes, inflation is falling – but nearly 90% of Brits say cost of living crisis is far from over
inflation/ cost of living/ supermarket queue
Inflation

Yes, inflation is falling – but nearly 90% of Brits say cost of living crisis is far from over

Low pay as a trainee bus driver left me desperate. I skipped meals and ended up £46k in debt
james rossi, who faced debt
Cost of living

Low pay as a trainee bus driver left me desperate. I skipped meals and ended up £46k in debt

DWP ramps up AI use to 'bring the future to the welfare system' and push people into work
disability benefits
Department for Work and Pensions

DWP ramps up AI use to 'bring the future to the welfare system' and push people into work

Archbishop of Canterbury joins growing calls for end to 'cruel' and 'immoral' two-child benefit cap
archbishop of canterbury
Two-child benefit cap

Archbishop of Canterbury joins growing calls for end to 'cruel' and 'immoral' two-child benefit cap

Almost no recorded cases of disability benefit fraud despite DWP crackdown: 'PIP fraud is a non-issue'
dwp pip/ disabled person
Disability benefits

Almost no recorded cases of disability benefit fraud despite DWP crackdown: 'PIP fraud is a non-issue'

Deaf man awarded £50,000 after 'oppressive' and 'discriminatory' treatment by DWP
dwp jobcentre
Department for Work and Pensions

Deaf man awarded £50,000 after 'oppressive' and 'discriminatory' treatment by DWP

Benefits system is 'utterly failing' as food bank demand reaches record high: 'It's heartbreaking'
a man sorts food donations into crates at a food bank
Food banks

Benefits system is 'utterly failing' as food bank demand reaches record high: 'It's heartbreaking'

'We're at breaking point': Food banks see record number of first-time users as demand soars
food bank
Food banks

'We're at breaking point': Food banks see record number of first-time users as demand soars

Benefit reforms 'entirely in the wrong direction' to help disabled people into work, DWP warned
rishi sunak/ disability benefit reforms dwp
Benefits

Benefit reforms 'entirely in the wrong direction' to help disabled people into work, DWP warned

DWP sparks outcry with plan to hire 2,500 'agents' to investigate universal credit claimants
rishi sunak and mel stride/ dwp
Benefit fraud

DWP sparks outcry with plan to hire 2,500 'agents' to investigate universal credit claimants

Free school meals: Who is eligible? And how do you apply? Here's all you need to know
Free school meals
Free school meals

Free school meals: Who is eligible? And how do you apply? Here's all you need to know

Universal credit changes risk pushing vulnerable benefit claimants 'into crisis', DWP warned
dwp universal credit/ parent balancing baby and work
Universal credit

Universal credit changes risk pushing vulnerable benefit claimants 'into crisis', DWP warned