Universal Basic Income Lab Network
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| Formation | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Sheffield, UK |
| Type | Think tank and campaign group |
| Purpose | To campaign for the introduction of a Universal Basic Income. |
| Website | ubilabnetwork.org |
The UBI Lab Network (or simply UBI Lab) is a think tank and global political movement campaigning for pilots of Universal Basic Income..[1][2][3]
The organisation was founded in Sheffield in 2016,[4] and now includes 40 groups around the world but predominantly in the UK.
History[edit]
The network was founded (as UBI Lab Sheffield) in 2016 at the Festival of Debate.[5] It has since expanded to include 35 geographically-based groups, as well as five identity-based groups.[6] These explore how a UBI would impact young people,[7] women, the LGBTQ+ community, artists and people with disabilities.
The organisation has successfully lobbied councils across the UK to pass motions calling for UBI pilots, including in Hull,[3] Sheffield,[3] Leeds,[8] London,[9] Belfast,[10] York,[11] Swansea,[12] and Gwynedd.[13] 30 local authorities have passed motions backing UBI pilots as the result of a campaign by UBI Lab since 2018.
In the months leading up to the 2019 general election, UBI Lab successfully lobbied John McDonnell to include UBI pilots in Liverpool and Sheffield in Labour's manifesto.[14]
In September 2020, the organisation worked with Compass to form the Cross-Party Parliamentary and Local Government Group (CPPLG) on UBI.[15] This group brings together politicians from all levels of government in the UK to campaign for UBI, and is co-chaired by Christine Jardine MP, Baroness Natalie Bennett, Beth Winter MP, Ronnie Cowan MP, Cllr Patrick Brown and Cllr Alison Teal[16]
In October 2020, the UBI Lab Network and the CPPLG on UBI coordinated a letter from 520 politicians across the UK[17] to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, calling on him to launch UBI pilots in Britain. This was followed by an Early Day Motion launched in Parliament in November 2020 by CPPLG co-chair Beth Winter that was signed by 62 MPs.[18]
In 2021 the organisation launched a series of campaigns asking candidates in the Scottish[19] (working with Basic Income Network Scotland), Welsh,[20] English mayoral (working with Compass and Basic Income UK) and English local elections to sign pledges promising to support UBI pilots. Prominent signatories include Andy Burnham, Sian Berry, Leanne Wood, Jane Dodds, Amelia Womack, Lorna Slater and Shirley-Anne Somerville.
At the 2021 UK elections, 25 candidates who signed UBI Lab's pledge were elected to the Welsh Senedd,[21] 29 to the Scottish Parliament, and one to an English mayoralty.[22]
On 8 October 2021, UBI Lab launched its proposal[23] for a Resilience UBI, which would see every adult in the UK given £400 a month for one year.
In November 2022, UBI Lab co-ordinated a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed by 285 politicians, campaigners and academics across the UK calling for "a universal basic income to protect Brits the rocketing cost-of-living and future crises."[24]
The UBI Lab Network is now planning its largest ever pledge campaign for the upcoming UK general election.
Future pilot in Wales[edit]
In April 2021, a journalist at The Wave radio station asked First Minister Mark Drakeford whether he supported UBI Lab's pledge campaign in Wales.[25]
On 14 May 2021, Drakeford announced that the Welsh Government would launch pilots of Universal Basic Income after 25 supporters of UBI Lab's pledge campaign were elected to the Senedd.[26]
On 26 July 2021, along with Sophie Howe, Guy Standing and representatives of the Women's Equality Network and Chwarae Teg, UBI Lab Wales wrote a letter to Mark Drakeford calling on him to launch a comprehensive Universal Basic Income pilot in Wales.[27]
On 17 January 2022, the Senedd's Petitions Committee published a report calling for the Welsh Government's proposed UBI pilot with care leavers to be expanded to include a wider range of participants.[28][29] The proposed care leavers pilot is due to begin in April 2022, last for three years and include 250 participants.[30] Members of UBI Lab Wales have repeatedly called for a more comprehensive pilot.[31]
As a result of the UBI Lab Network's election project,[32] the Welsh Government announced a Basic Income pilot involving care leavers in February 2022.[33][34] The pilot will offer every young person leaving care in Wales £1,600 a month for two years, and will open in summer 2022.[35][36][37] The pilot project has been described as the world's highest-ever basic income offer.[38]
Future pilot in Northern Ireland[edit]
In October 2021, UBI Lab Northern Ireland began a £95,800 feasibility study into a potential future Universal Basic Income pilot in Northern Ireland.[39] The feasibility study will take one year to complete, and is being supported by Belfast City Council and Derry City and Strabane City Council, as well as Queen's University Belfast.
In February 2022, UBI Lab Northern Ireland launched a campaign asking candidates to sign a pledge promising to support UBI pilots ahead of the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election. 24 of the 90 candidates eventually elected to the assembly on 5 May signed the pledge.
Proposals for Basic Income pilots[edit]
In April 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, the organisation's proposal for an emergency UBI during the coronavirus pandemic was launched on the frontpage of the Yorkshire Post.[2]
In November 2020, UBI Lab NI released a proposal for a Universal Basic Income as a 'Peace Dividend' in Northern Ireland, specifically designed to reduce sectarian violence.[40]
References[edit]
- ↑ "'Our generation's NHS': support grows for universal basic income". The Guardian. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Why giving everyone in Yorkshire a universal basic income could help region - and country - recover from pandemic". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Gold, Harry (2019-06-12). "Sheffield council backs universal basic income trial". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Is Newport next in line for a UBI trial?". Green World. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Opus during Covid-19: Thoughts and reflections". Now Then Sheffield. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "'We need radicalism to knit our humanity back together again:' The case for a universal basic income". Morning Star. 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ Am, Cllr Sian Berry (2020-08-15). "Now is the time to bring in a Universal Basic Income". Hampstead Highgate Express. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Leeds becomes largest city in UK to call for universal basic income pilot". The Independent. 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "News from Siân Berry: London Assembly Members back trial of basic income for the city". London City Hall. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "McReynolds secures support for Universal Basic Income". Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "York councillors to vote on bid to trial Universal Basic Income in city". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ Youle, Richard (2020-12-10). "Swansea Council wants everyone in the city to be given a basic income". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Council backs motion calling for Universal Basic Income pilot". North.Wales. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Labour to present 'radical' manifesto with universal basic income pilot". The Independent. 2019-11-10. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Campaigners join national group championing a Basic Income". Hinckley & Bosworth Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ Eye, Dorset (2020-09-15). "MPs, peers and councillors form unique new group to explore Universal Basic Income". Dorset Eye. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Covid job losses lead MPs to call for trials of universal basic income". The Guardian. 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
- ↑ "Universal Basic Income pilots - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament". edm.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Holyrood candidates asked to back pilots of Universal Basic Income". Now Then Sheffield. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "100 candidates in Welsh elections back Universal Basic Income pilots". Herald Wales. 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "The Benefits System in Wales". UK Parliament. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ↑ "Election success for UK politicians backing universal basic income". The Guardian. 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ↑ "We want to give everyone in Britain £400 a month – no strings attached". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
- ↑ Cowburn, Ashley (2022-11-06). "Rishi Sunak urged to examine basic income to protect Brits from future crises". mirror. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ↑ "VIDEO: Senedd Election 2021 -Meet The Leaders!". The Wave. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ↑ "Wales to launch pilot universal basic income scheme". The Guardian. 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ↑ "Universal basic income: Wales' trial 'should include everyone'". BBC News. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ↑ "Senedd Committee calls for expanded Universal Basic Income pilot". The National Wales. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
- ↑ "Call for Welsh Government to expand its Universal Basic Income pilot". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
- ↑ "Wales' universal basic income pilot too small - report". BBC News. 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
- ↑ "'Data can show a basic income isn't too expensive or a utopian dream'". The National Wales. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
- ↑ "Welsh care leavers to receive £1,600 a month in basic income pilot". The Big Issue. 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ↑ "Basic income pilot scheme for care leavers to be trialled in Wales". The Guardian. 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ↑ "Basic income: Care leavers to be offered £1,600 a month for two years under Wales pilot scheme". Sky News. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ↑ "Basic income: Wales pilot offers £1,600 a month to care leavers". BBC News. 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ↑ "Wales trials universal basic income of £19,200 a year". The Independent. 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ↑ Hayward, Will (2022-02-15). "Some in Wales will get almost £20k a year in a basic income trial". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ↑ "Wales to trial world's highest basic income scheme for young people". Chard & Ilminster News. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ↑ "Trial scheme in which councils will give people free money takes step closer". www.newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
- ↑ "Benefits: Should Stormont give money to everyone in NI?". BBC News. 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
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