Isabella McRae
Isabella McRae is a senior reporter and feature writer 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
Children are 'eating rubbers and stealing food' at school because they are hungry
Child in class/ Hungry in school
Cost of living crisis

Children are 'eating rubbers and stealing food' at school because they are hungry

Food banks warn Liz Truss they're at 'breaking point' in open letter delivered to Downing Street
representatives of food banks outside downing street
Food banks

Food banks warn Liz Truss they're at 'breaking point' in open letter delivered to Downing Street

Jeremy Hunt has massively scaled back Liz Truss's energy bills support
Jeremy Hunt/ Energy bills support
Energy bills

Jeremy Hunt has massively scaled back Liz Truss's energy bills support

The government promised to help with the cost of living. So how far is the household support fund going?
Liz Truss/ Household support fund
Cost of living crisis

The government promised to help with the cost of living. So how far is the household support fund going?

How one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK is tackling the cost of living crisis
Barking and Dagenham
Cost of living crisis

How one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK is tackling the cost of living crisis

Kwasi Kwarteng remains tight-lipped over how huge tax cuts will be funded
Kwasi Kwarteng
Economy

Kwasi Kwarteng remains tight-lipped over how huge tax cuts will be funded

Expanding free school meals for all children on universal credit could bring billions in economic gains, government told
Free school meals/ Easter holidays
Free school meals

Expanding free school meals for all children on universal credit could bring billions in economic gains, government told

'They put my life in danger': The crisis in children's mental health services
Image of boy/ Children's mental health
Mental health

'They put my life in danger': The crisis in children's mental health services

'This is austerity 2.0': Outcry as government plots cuts to public spending
Cost of living crisis

'This is austerity 2.0': Outcry as government plots cuts to public spending

Home Office visa delays are 'pushing people into poverty'
a man's silhouette/ visa/ home office immigration policy is pushing people into poverty
Immigration

Home Office visa delays are 'pushing people into poverty'

'People will starve and freeze' if government U-turns on promise to increase benefits
image of person looking sad/ benefits/ universal credit/ inflation
Cost of living crisis

'People will starve and freeze' if government U-turns on promise to increase benefits

Labour would bring in free breakfast clubs at every primary school in England
Image of children eating/ Breakfast clubs/ Labour/ Childcare
Childcare

Labour would bring in free breakfast clubs at every primary school in England