Isabella McRae
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 a winner of the PPA Next Gen Awards in 2023, formerly known as the 30 under 30. She was shortlisted for journalist of the year in the Scope Disability Awards 2024. Get in touch with Isabella through isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com
Period poverty: Homeless women forced to steal tampons or use old clothes as period products
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
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 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
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’

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

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