Labour’s universal pay plan attacked

 Labour plans for all voters to be paid a Universal Basic Income regardless of whether they are in work, would be a disaster, says the architect of the universal credit system of welfare.

Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, said a UBI would hurt those it intended to help. “It would require a giant tax hike for all, hurting those on the lowest incomes the most,” he said, “and bankrupt the exchequer.”

Edward Davies, of the CSJ think tank, said those on universal credit in most need could see their income halved: “The entire point of welfare is to provide a safety net, empowering them to climb back out of poverty.”