The Mayor confirmed he is ‘more than happy for London to be used as a pilot in relation to the exploration of a UBI’, following questioning from Zack Polanski.
Zack put forward ideas for a pilot for 2 tower blocks located in 2 different London boroughs, where everyone will be given a Basic Income for 18 months to measure the impacts not just on income but on physical and mental wellbeing and standard of living.
Zack Polanski says:
With coronavirus cases soaring, there are familiar ripples of uncertainty creeping in when it comes to Londoner's financial security, especially in precarious work sectors.
“We must learn the lessons from the loss of the Universal Credit uplift and the furlough scheme.
“A package of Universal Basic Income can act as a permanent measure to make sure that nobody is left high and dry.
“It’s important that whatever we face with this new variant, every single one of us has enough to meet our basic needs.
By trailing this in London, the Mayor can create a city that gives us all a fairer chance of pulling through this together.
Recipients of a Universal Basic Income trial in Finland tended to feel less stressed, and even though there were no conditions attached, it did not lead to a reduction in job-seeking or work. [1]