Wales: cross-party support for universal basic income

One hundred cross-party candidates from five parties have made a pledge to support a pilot of UBI ahead of the Senedd elections in May.

Herald Wales wrote:

The pledge has been launched by UBI Lab Wales, a citizen-led group exploring the potential for Universal Basic Income in the country.

After a successful campaign by UBI Lab Wales and Jack Sargeant MS, the Senedd passed a motion backing a UBI pilot in Wales in September 2020.

Councils in Cardiff, Swansea, Gwynedd and Rhondda Cynon Taf have since asked to take a leading role, with more expected to follow.

Sophie Howe, the Welsh Government’s Future Generations Commissioner, recently launched a major study into a UBI pilot, saying that an “unconditional, regular payment could prevent further mass unemployment and poverty caused by the pandemic.”

By signing the pledge, candidates commit to:

• Support calls to pilot Universal Basic Income in Wales
• Lobby Westminster for the devolved powers needed to pilot Universal Basic Income
• Work with other Senedd members to call for a new economic settlement, which includes trialling a Universal Basic Income

Over the coming weeks, UBI Lab Wales will contact every candidate in every seat and ask them to add their name.

Read the full story at Herald Wales.

“We don’t think there should be a minimum wage. We think there should be a genuine living wage.”

– @Amelia_Womack on if there should be a minimum wage with a #UBI. #UBIWales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #OurGenerationsNHS

— Wales Green Party (@WalesGreenParty) March 25, 2021