Basic Income Trials for Scotland?

This is a nice headline for a New Year’s Day morning: Universal basic income trials being considered in Scotland.

Scotland, of course, is where I live. And Basic Income is something I believe in and have written lots about. So this is a very happy way to start the year.

Scotland looks set to be the first part of the UK to pilot a basic income for every citizen, as councils in Fife and Glasgow investigate trial schemes in 2017.

The councillor Matt Kerr has been championing the idea through the ornate halls of Glasgow City Chambers, and is frank about the challenges it poses.

“Like a lot of people, I was interested in the idea but never completely convinced,” he said. But working as Labour’s anti-poverty lead on the council, Kerr says that he “kept coming back to the basic income”.

Now, “Basic Income set to free millions under the kosh of Calvinism” would be a better headline and one I’d love to see on the front page of the Glasgow Herald next January 1st, but this is a start.

The thing about Scotland is that they really understand the precariat, … The sense of insecurity, the stagnating living standards, all of those things are clear in Scotland and the fact that so many within the SNP are supportive means there’s a real opportunity to do a pilot in Scotland. The momentum is there and once it is framed around a desire for greater social justice then you get away from the stale debate about whether if you give people the basic income then they will be lazy.

This isn’t exactly my catchphrase but: let’s get to work.

★ The post-print phase of New Escapologist is just beginning. Go here to join in.
★ You can also buy all thirteen issues in print or PDF (in newly discounted £20 bargain bundles) at the shop.