Daily Mirror

Now right-wing think-tank backs a basic wage for all

- BY JASON BEATTIE Head of Politics

AN influentia­l right-wing think-tank has backed a basic universal income.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has already set up a group to explore the benefits of a flat wage regardless of whether people work.

Now the Adam Smith Institute says the idea will ease the transition as huge swathes of the workforce are replaced by robots.

Last year a report warned four million jobs could go by 2027. The Adam Smith report says: “Basic income could help secure popular support for the changes while allowing the unemployed to retain the dignity of choice. “To avoid a populist backlash we need to design policies for those left behind by creative destructio­n.” Canada, Finland, Uganda and California are already carrying out trials. It is also backed by Tesla’s Elon Musk and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.

 ??  ?? PROBE John McDonnell
PROBE John McDonnell

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