Support for a Basic Income grows across the North
Press Release by ~ Jonny Ross-Tatam
Support for a Basic Income is growing across the North, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor has suggested that Basic Income trials could be in the party’s election manifesto and many northern politicians want to trial it in their communities.
Support for a Universal Basic Income is growing across the North of England. A network of local groups – known as UBI Labs - have been established to explore Basic Income in their communities. They involve a collaboration between members of the local community, academics and politicians. UBI Lab was founded in Sheffield and further groups have now been started in Liverpool, Leeds, Kirklees and the North East.
Groups in Liverpool and Sheffield have already achieved notable success. Cllr Patrick Hurley and colleagues at Liverpool City Council backed a motion calling for a Basic Income trial in their city. UBI Lab Sheffield played an instrumental role in getting Sheffield City Council to also support a trial.
Now a new regional network - Basic Income North - has been created to support the UBI movement in the North. This involves a coalition of campaigners, local politicians, policy experts and charities from across the North, who are committed to raising awareness of this potentially transformative idea.
As well as the existing UBI Lab network, it includes the RSA, the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), the Centre for Welfare Reform (also a founding member of UBI Lab Sheffield), Steady State Manchester and the People’s Powerhouse. It also has the support of national politicians, like Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour Basic Income and the national advocacy group Basic Income UK.
Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell MP has suggested Basic Income trials could be in the party’s election manifesto, citing Liverpool and Sheffield as possible locations. A number of northern MPs are also supportive of a Basic Income, including Ed Miliband, Thelma Walker and Jonathan Reynolds.
A Basic Income, also known as a Universal Basic Income (UBI), is a regular payment from the state to everyone, regardless of their income or employment status. Proposals for a Basic Income range from £50 per week for every adult to over £100 per week for every adult and child.
Supporters believe that a Basic Income would guarantee everyone the right to basic financial security by providing a regular income boost for millions in Britain. They also believe that it would give people more freedom to pursue education and training later in life, start a business, or take time out to care for a loved one without facing financial penalties.
Basic Income trials in Finland and Canada showed improved mental and physical health for participants and it did not make people work less.
A modest Basic Income scheme already exists in Alaska, where all citizens receive an annual dividend of around $2,000 a year from the state’s oil profits.
Jonathan Reynolds MP, the Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde and a Basic Income proponent, explains the growing interest in the idea across the North:
“There is a lively discussion taking place about Basic Income around the world. There is definitely an appetite for that here in the North of England, where many areas have experienced deindustrialisation, insecurity and increased deprivation. I’m looking forward to being part of the conversation.”
Campaigners and politicians in other communities across the North - including in Kirklees, Leeds and Newcastle - want their local areas to be considered too.
As Sam Gregory, Chair of UBI Lab Sheffield said, “the movement for a Basic Income is growing across the country, and we’ve already secured support for local trials from Sheffield and Liverpool city councils. We know that many other northern councils and politicians are interested in trialling a Basic Income, so we hope they will follow the lead set by Liverpool and Sheffield. We created the UBI Lab network to help activists set up UBI Lab groups across the UK and around the world. We share resources and support each other in making Basic Income pilots a reality.”
While critics of Basic Income point to potential high costs, several think tanks, including the RSA, Compass and the New Economics Foundation, have outlined how a Basic Income could be achieved and how it can be paid for.
And, according to Councillor Erin Hill, Chair of UBI Lab Kirklees, the costs of not introducing a Basic Income, and failing to tackle widespread economic insecurity, should also be considered:
"We live in a country where most people in poverty are in working households. Most children in poverty live in a family with at least one working adult. Many people using foodbanks are also working. This level of poverty and insecurity comes at a huge cost for our economy, society, families and our communities. A Basic Income would help to address this poverty and insecurity."
Notes to editors
The Basic Income North network is a coalition of campaigners, local politicians, policy experts and charities, who are committed to raising awareness of this potentially transformative policy. This includes groups such as the UBI Lab network, the People’s Powerhouse, the RSA, Centre for Welfare Reform, Steady State Manchester and Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES). The network has also gained support from northern MPs such as Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Jonathan Reynolds MP and national groups Basic Income UK and Labour Basic Income.
More about the author
Jonny Ross-Tatam - @JRossTatam
Passionate about #basicincome & drug policy reform. Founder @BuchananInst. Ambassador @LabourDrugRef & @TeachFirst & #BasicIncomeNorth.