Ministers to explore Finland’s basic income

The Scottish Government is to consider Finnish-style plans for a universal basic income as it seeks to create close ties with Nordic countries post Brexit.

Europe Minister Alasdair Allan said launched a new policy statement, which said it would look for opportunities to “learn lessons” from the Finnish example. Nicola Sturgeon’s Programme for Government, has already floated the idea of a citizen’s income. The document also said the Scottish Government would engage with Sweden with a view to learning from its disability benefits scheme.

Last night Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: “This is another flirtation from the SNP with the idea of a universal basic income. In reality, it would prove unaffordable and counter-productive.

“Taxpayers will be extremely concerned to see the SNP lavishing praise on high-tax Sweden; Scotland is already the highest-taxed part of the UK and people don’t want to be penalised further.

“The Nationalists are about to find out just how difficult it is to set up a welfare system that’s fair and sustainable. Tokenistic praise for Scandinavia won’t make that process any simpler.”