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
Assisted dying: The right to die shouldn't only be for the rich. But could legalising it harm the poor?
norman ward
Assisted dying

Assisted dying: The right to die shouldn't only be for the rich. But could legalising it harm the poor?

How baby banks are fighting child poverty and empowering mums in the cost of living crisis
baby banks/ thea
Mother's Day

How baby banks are fighting child poverty and empowering mums in the cost of living crisis

'There was no way out': Survivors of domestic abuse forced to stay with abusers or face destitution
domestic abuse/ trapped
Cost of living crisis

'There was no way out': Survivors of domestic abuse forced to stay with abusers or face destitution

'We felt like absolute stars': Behind the 1971 women's football World Cup the world forgot
women's football/ team
Sport

'We felt like absolute stars': Behind the 1971 women's football World Cup the world forgot

Rwanda asylum plan could cost taxpayer more than £500m. Here's how that could be much better spent
Rishi Sunak and James Cleverly have been trying to get the Rwanda scheme off the ground
A modest proposal

Rwanda asylum plan could cost taxpayer more than £500m. Here's how that could be much better spent

UK energy bills to fall – but millions still live in dangerously cold and damp homes
energy bills/ hob
Energy bills

UK energy bills to fall – but millions still live in dangerously cold and damp homes

Tories have promised free childcare for working families. But there's a major problem
childcare
Childcare

Tories have promised free childcare for working families. But there's a major problem

More than half of people on universal credit going without food because they can't afford it
Trussell Trust food banks
Food banks

More than half of people on universal credit going without food because they can't afford it

Millions on universal credit left cold, without food and in debt – because the system is failing us
food bank
Helen Barnard

Millions on universal credit left cold, without food and in debt – because the system is failing us

DWP benefit dates for March 2024 and other help as cost of living payments end
benefits/ money
Benefits

DWP benefit dates for March 2024 and other help as cost of living payments end

'We're running out of babies': Childcare costs driving parents into debt and to abortion, study finds
childcare costs/ baby
Childcare

'We're running out of babies': Childcare costs driving parents into debt and to abortion, study finds

How iconic arts venue graced by Elton John and Amy Winehouse is helping homeless people
union chapel
Community activism

How iconic arts venue graced by Elton John and Amy Winehouse is helping homeless people