A universal basic income and decent public services could transform the country after the pandemic
As Britain’s economy and society gradually reopen, we face big questions about what should come next. The chancellor has promised tax rises and spending cuts. Without a radical response, increases in poverty, unemployment and inequality will be inevitable outcomes of the Covid crisis.
What’s needed now is a social guarantee that enshrines every person’s right to life’s essentials. Most people will agree what these essentials are: education, healthcare, a decent home, care, food, clean air and water, energy, transport and (these days) access to the internet. To ensure everyone has these essentials, people must have a fair living income and access to public services that meet their needs.
