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Isabella McRae
Isabella McRae is a senior reporter at The Big Issue specialising in social justice. She reports on a wide range of issues including poverty and inequality, the benefits system, disability rights, housing, health, immigration, gender equality and much more. 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
'Good riddance, Grant Shapps': New energy secretary Claire Coutinho urged to tackle climate crisis
Claire Coutinho
Energy

'Good riddance, Grant Shapps': New energy secretary Claire Coutinho urged to tackle climate crisis

Young man who died by suicide feared DWP would take disability benefits away
Josh, who struggled with DWP disability benefits
Disability benefits

Young man who died by suicide feared DWP would take disability benefits away

'I have cancer and I'm worried about heating this winter': Energy price cap will leave 6.3 million households in fuel poverty
Wise/ Energy Bills
Energy bills

'I have cancer and I'm worried about heating this winter': Energy price cap will leave 6.3 million households in fuel poverty

The DWP disability benefits system has 'failed people living with Parkinson's for a decade'
Phil Bungay/ DWP disability benefits
Disability benefits

The DWP disability benefits system has 'failed people living with Parkinson's for a decade'

DWP warned over disability benefits failures that leave disabled people in 'psychological distress'
DWP
Disability benefits

DWP warned over disability benefits failures that leave disabled people in 'psychological distress'

DWP faces disability benefits backlog as record 430,000 people wait for PIP review
Disability sign/ DWP PIP can help people with disabilities or illness pay for extra costs
Disability benefits

DWP faces disability benefits backlog as record 430,000 people wait for PIP review

'The DWP disability benefits system has crushed me': a domestic abuse survivor speaks out
Anonymous domestic abuse survivor struggles with disability benefits system
Disability benefits

'The DWP disability benefits system has crushed me': a domestic abuse survivor speaks out

'The DWP refused me PIP and took universal credit deductions because my landlord told them to. How am I supposed to live?'
George Mitchell, who has faced difficulties with the DWP PIP and universal credit
Disability benefits

'The DWP refused me PIP and took universal credit deductions because my landlord told them to. How am I supposed to live?'

This teenager with MS is fighting for change after DWP universal credit waiting times forced her to use food banks
Keisha, who has faced DWP universal credit waiting times
Universal credit

This teenager with MS is fighting for change after DWP universal credit waiting times forced her to use food banks

Free and cheap things to do with kids over the summer holidays
summer holidays activities/ illustration
Summer survival guide

Free and cheap things to do with kids over the summer holidays

How to find a cheap holiday club and get financial support for childcare over the summer holidays
Holiday clubs/ Childcare over the summer holidays
Summer survival guide

How to find a cheap holiday club and get financial support for childcare over the summer holidays

Summer Survival Guide: How to get through the summer holidays in the cost of living crisis
summer holidays illustration
Summer survival guide

Summer Survival Guide: How to get through the summer holidays in the cost of living crisis