Isabella McRae
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isabellamcrae.bsky.social
Isabella McRae
@isabellamcrae.bsky.social
2.1K followers 390 following 98 posts
Senior reporter at the Big Issue | Get in touch with me at isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com
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isabellamcrae.bsky.social
Great to commission this from @lucywebster.bsky.social – an extract from her book The View From Down Here which is out in paperback today.

www.bigissue.com/opinion/disa...
This is how it feels to be a disabled woman desexualised by the world
In her book The View From Down Here, Lucy Webster argues that for disabled women, there is an additional battle to be seen as women at all.
www.bigissue.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:42 PM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
Liquid drips through the walls. Black mould creeps around the windows towards my bed. I hear screaming from downstairs. Rodents sneak out of the floorboards. A strange man lets himself into my home unasked.

Is this a haunted house or my first London flat? Find out:

www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Haunted houses are a classic horror trope – but are they scarier than landlords?
Haunted houses have appeared in Gothic literature and horror films for centuries. We look into how the trope has changed in the modern day.
www.bigissue.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:02 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
Dania, 16, is trapped in Gaza and separated from her mother – who is a UK resident through marriage.

Dania has been awarded a scholarship to a British boarding school - renewing hope that they might be reunited. But UK government policy is blocking this

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Teen scholar trapped in Gaza after being blocked from joining her mum in UK
Dania Alafranji and her mother been separated by the war in Gaza and the UK government policy is blocking them from being reunited.
www.bigissue.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:05 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
“Landlords can be worse than poltergeists. I would rather live in a haunted house than with a dodgy landlord.”

Meet the people who live in haunted houses – and the ghost hunters who track them down 👻

www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
This is what it's really like living in a haunted house
Haunted houses often stay on the market for longer and sell at a cheaper price than other homes, but would you dare tread on a ghost's territory?
www.bigissue.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by Isabella McRae
gregbarradale.bsky.social
Shocking and eye-opening @bigissue.com story from @isabellamcrae.bsky.social

Whose lives - and deaths - matter?

www.bigissue.com/life/health/...
People with learning disabilities are dying 20 years early
The latest LeDeR report found that nearly four in 10 deaths of people with a learning disability in 2023 were ‘avoidable’.
www.bigissue.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Isabella McRae
bigissue.com
Hi 👋 It’s @isabellamcrae.bsky.social, senior reporter at the Big Issue here.

This week, we have published a series of articles about abortion rights in the UK 🪧

Abortion is one step closer to decriminalisation in England and Wales, but are rights still at risk?

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Abortion is close to decriminalisation. But how quickly can rights be rolled back?
More than 100 women are believed to have been arrested on suspicion of abortion over the last five years in England and Wales.
www.bigissue.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:33 PM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
There are pregnancy advice centres across the UK which claim to offer ethical, impartial services.

But some are actively misinforming women about abortion. Some women have been left "traumatised".

I've been investigating this phenomenon. Read it here ⬇️

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
What is the truth about crisis pregnancy centres in the UK?
Crisis pregnancy centres which have been known to “misinform” women around abortion have become increasingly “professionalised” in the UK.
www.bigissue.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:21 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
I've spent a few months working on a series of articles on abortion rights in the UK. The first piece is out today.

Abortion is a step closer to decriminalisation in England and Wales, but with the rise of right-wing rhetoric, are rights still at risk?

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Abortion is close to decriminalisation. But how quickly can rights be rolled back?
More than 100 women are believed to have been arrested on suspicion of abortion over the last five years in England and Wales.
www.bigissue.com
October 13, 2025 at 9:54 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
In honour of Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl coming out today, I've been speaking to 'showgirls' in Britain about the glamour of their world 💃

www.bigissue.com/culture/musi...
Is the life of a showgirl as glamorous as Taylor Swift makes it seem?
Ahead of the release of Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl, the Big Issue spoke to British 'showgirls' about the glamour of their world.
www.bigissue.com
October 3, 2025 at 8:16 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
I spent a wonderful few hours at this family's home where interior designers were transforming a three-year-old girl's bedroom. The results were pretty incredible and the reaction was even better:

www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
This 'life-changing' project is transforming the bedrooms of children living in poverty
Children living in poverty in London are having their bedrooms transformed through this project run by The Childhood Trust.
www.bigissue.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:12 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
I adored visiting this school in East London and meeting these kids who made me feel very hopeful about the future!

They're on a mission to raise £18,000 for homelessness charities, and they're learning a huge amount in the process.

www.bigissue.com/news/activis...
Meet the primary school children with big ideas to end homelessness
These children are trying to raise £18,000 for homelessness charities, an amount they have calculated would help one person off the streets.
www.bigissue.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:16 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
"I was an asylum seeker, and when I got to university, it changed everything. I have hope for the future"

I spoke with students and experts about the potential dangers of the Home Office's plans to crack down on international students claiming asylum

www.bigissue.com/news/interna...
International students could be put in 'danger' by Home Office crackdown on asylum claims
The Home Office has pledged to crack down on the number of students overstaying their visa after graduating
www.bigissue.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:14 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
A lovely surprise to come back from annual leave to find out a story I did on cuckooing has been shortlisted for best news story at the Anti-Slavery Day Awards! Thank you to the Human Trafficking Foundation

www.humantraffickingfoundation.org/antislavery-...

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Gangs are taking over vulnerable people's homes and using them as drug dens
The Big Issue shadowed the police officers trying to tackle cuckooing in Camden and Islington, where they have brought down the numbers.
www.bigissue.com
September 1, 2025 at 11:41 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
Glasgow City Council confirmed to me it had known this was a dangerous building for years. But costs and the fact the building was listed led to delays. Its collapse in July left residents homeless, their lives uprooted, and feeling lucky that no one was hurt

www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Tenants left homeless with no possessions after unsafe building collapses
Glasgow council declared it a dangerous building, but delays and costs meant it was still standing in July 2025 – until its collapse.
www.bigissue.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:06 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
Are you a first time buyer with a Lifetime ISA (LISA) or Help to Buy ISA facing challenges? Are you struggling to find a place to live because the cap on properties hasn't gone up with house prices? I want to hear from you for a piece for the Big Issue! #journorequest
July 29, 2025 at 3:11 PM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
I interviewed MP @rachaelmaskell.bsky.social about her suspension from Labour, her fear's for the party's future and what needs to change to move the country in a positive direction

www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
Rachael Maskell: 'If Labour doesn't change, I fear where this country is headed'
Rachael Maskell speaks to the Big Issue about losing the Labour whip, and why she stands by her decision to rebel against the welfare cuts.
www.bigissue.com
July 24, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Reposted by Isabella McRae
thenhsa.bsky.social
Thanks to @isabellamcrae.bsky.social for the opportunity of a @bigissue.com comment piece, authored by @lakenutrition.bsky.social and other Nutrition North members - you can read about why it's harder to be healthier in the North at
www.bigissue.com/opinion/heal...
It's harder to be healthy if you live in the North of England
Professor Amelia Lake, dietitian and public health nutritionist at Teesside University, writes about health inequalities facing the North.
www.bigissue.com
July 22, 2025 at 9:59 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
Misan Harriman's career was catapulted after his photographs of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations caught widespread attention. He became the first black man to shoot the cover of British Vogue.

It was powerful to speak to him about protest and resistance

www.bigissue.com/news/activis...
Photographer Misan Harriman on Black Lives Matter, Gaza and finding hope in protest
Renowned photographer Misan Harriman has unveiled his first solo exhibition 'The Purpose of Light' featuring images of protest and resistance.
www.bigissue.com
July 14, 2025 at 8:27 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
In the aftermath of the vote on the welfare bill last night, I spoke to the BBC's Access All podcast ‪about what it means going forward for disabled people – and the devastating impact this last year of uncertainty has had

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Access All: Disability News and Mental Health - Controversial benefits change passes Commons - BBC Sounds
Access All: MPs vote in controversial benefits change
www.bbc.co.uk
July 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Reposted by Isabella McRae
mariondavis.bsky.social
Amazing campaign. We can't rely on leaders, only people can make the changes needed happen.🔻
isabellamcrae.bsky.social Isabella McRae @isabellamcrae.bsky.social · Jul 7
I wrote about the extraordinary campaign that was Make Poverty History. Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK joined the calls to end poverty 20 years ago – so what would it take for that to happen again?

www.bigissue.com/news/activis...
Whatever happened to Make Poverty History?
Make Poverty History blazed a trail in reducing poverty across the world. But now progress is heading backwards so where do we go from here?
www.bigissue.com
July 7, 2025 at 9:28 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
I wrote about the extraordinary campaign that was Make Poverty History. Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK joined the calls to end poverty 20 years ago – so what would it take for that to happen again?

www.bigissue.com/news/activis...
Whatever happened to Make Poverty History?
Make Poverty History blazed a trail in reducing poverty across the world. But now progress is heading backwards so where do we go from here?
www.bigissue.com
July 7, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Isabella McRae
paulabarkermp.bsky.social
I spoke to @isabellamcrae.bsky.social from the @bigissue.com about why I could not vote for the Welfare Bill last night 👇

www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/why-labour-mps-voted-against-disability-benefit-cuts/
Here's why 49 rebel Labour MPs voted against the government's welfare bill
Rebel Labour MPs explain to the Big Issue why they could not "in good conscience" vote for the disability benefit cuts in the welfare bill.
www.bigissue.com
July 2, 2025 at 2:53 PM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
This is an incredible feat. Ahmed is a 29-year-old teacher living in Gaza who, despite the horror his own family faced, decided he had to do something to help children.

He set up schools in tents and his team now teach 3,000 kids – giving them hope beyond conflict

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Thousands of children find hope in tent schools in Gaza
Teacher Ahmed Abu Riziq decided he wanted to help children in Gaza, so he set up schools in tents. They try to make the children smile.
www.bigissue.com
July 2, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Isabella McRae
cjayanetti.bsky.social
The government argues its PIP cuts won't hit as many people as feared because applicants will appeal against rejections

But DWP figures show a ten-month average wait for appeals. And that's before demand rises with the cuts

By me, for Big Issue:
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Majority of PIP claimants with heart disease, arthritis and Crohn's at risk of cuts
DWP data obtained by Big Issue shows that the majority of people with heart failure, HIV and arthritis are at risk of losing their benefits.
www.bigissue.com
July 1, 2025 at 8:46 AM
isabellamcrae.bsky.social
This week's Big Issue is very special. It was created entirely by a group of teenagers.

It was lovely to be so involved in this project – to hear their stories and dreams and help make that a reality in the magazine.

www.bigissue.com/opinion/youn...
The story behind our special edition created entirely by young people
This is the story behind the Big Issue's Young Team Takeover – a special edition created entirely by young people.
www.bigissue.com
June 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM