Universal basic income could come to Scotland, says Nicola Sturgeon
The Scottish First Minister announces a trial of the radical welfare scheme, which grants every citizen a stipend

Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland could introduce a universal basic income (UBI) that would guarantee a weekly payment of £150 to every citizen for life.
Unveiling the SNP's "Programme for Government", Sturgeon said she would be working with local councils to fund trial schemes that would "inform parliament’s thinking for the future".
Formerly a fringe idea favoured by left-wing economists in the US, "the idea of a basic income has gained traction in recent years as fears grow over depressed wage growth and the rise of automation", says The Scotsman.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The system, which rolls benefits such as the dole and housing into one lump sum for every citizen regardless of their financial situation, "has been championed as a method to do away with the UK’s welfare system", says The Independent - but critics argue that it would be costly and encourage people to work less.
UBI has long been official party policy of the Scottish Greens. Under their proposals, pensioners would get £150 a week, while working adults would get £100. Everyone under 16 would get £50.
A pilot project is currently underway in Finland, with two thousand people receiving €560 (£473) a month for two years, irrespective of whether they are in employment or not. Ministers say this has led to a fall in poverty and stress levels.
However, a nationwide roll-out in Scotland might be hard to implement because Holyrood does not have full powers over social security, benefits and taxes, meaning MSPs "do not have the legal teeth to bring in a UBI scheme", says The Independent.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Morales seeks re-election defying constitution and criminal charges
Under the Radar Supporters of former president Evo Morales clash with authorities as political and economic turmoil deepens
-
June 22 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include a SpaceX flight, Bibi pulling Donald Trump toward war, and an ICE agent looking like a bank robber
-
5 bunker-busting cartoons about the Israel-Iran war
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on Iran waiting for Pete Hegseth to leak war plans and Donald Trump's wish for a Nobel prize
-
Is the G7 still relevant?
Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?
Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Is Starmer's plan to send migrants overseas Rwanda 2.0?
Today's Big Question Failed asylum seekers could be removed to Balkan nations under new government plans
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?
Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?
Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations