Calls grow for basic income scheme

Calls for a universal basic income have grown louder after shocking new figures revealed coronavirus has contributed to the huge rise in unemployment benefit claims across Tayside and Fife in a single month.

SNP MP for Dunfermline and West Fife Douglas Chapman says his constituency showed an increase of 1,320 claimants between the ages of 16 and 64 from March to April – up to 3,525 from 2,205 – while those aged 18-24 claiming out-of-work benefits increased by 200.

He said: “These numbers are concerning but are a symptom of the difficult times we are living in during the coronavirus pandemic, which is pushing people into uncharted territory.

“This is also a result of many people falling through the cracks of the UK Government’s business and self-employed support schemes and is forcing people to apply for Universal Credit.

“This is causing people a lot of stress but it doesn’t need to be like this; the UK Government could have introduced a Universal Basic Income to make sure no one is left behind by the coronavirus pandemic and suffers as a result of something they had no control over.

“It is not too late for the UK Government to introduce a Universal Basic Income which would make sure everyone has a guaranteed income stream during this time.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon expressed support for UBI earlier this month and said the idea should be “quite close to the top of the list” in terms of issues which required a rethink.

“The experience of the virus and the economic consequences of that have actually made me much, much more strongly of the view that it is an idea that’s time has come,” she said.

While Ms Sturgeon said she would be seeking “constructive discussion” with Westminster about the issue, Alok Sharma, the UK Government’s business, energy and industrial strategy secretary, appears to have already ruled it out.

“I think what’s very important in the way that we provide support, particularly more widely in the welfare system, is that we target it at people, and Universal Basic Income is an issue that’s being tested in other countries and hasn’t been taken forward.”