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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
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
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
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
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
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
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
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
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
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
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published