News from Siân Berry: London Assembly Members back trial of basic income for the city

London has become the largest city in the world to back a trial on basic income after Assembly Members finally approved a motion put forward by Sian Berry AM. [1]

The landmark decision was reached by a cross-party majority vote at the London Assembly’s Economy Committee with Sian’s Green Party colleague, Caroline Russell AM, and Labour’s Unmesh Desai AM and Leonie Cooper AM voting in favour of the motion.

The Committee will now ask the Assembly to call on the Mayor to:

• write to the government calling for a fully evaluated basic income pilot in the city; and

• work with local authorities to help test UBI in London.

The Assembly’s support comes following months of deliberation, after a whole Assembly meeting in November referred Sian’s motion, which was seconded by Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, to be considered by the Economy Committee instead of being voted on, at the suggestion of the committee chair. [1]



Sian Berry says:

This is an incredibly exciting day. I am so proud to have put forward this proposal, which could bring security to so many Londoners facing uncertainty and poverty.

These times demand leadership and fresh ideas. A trial of basic income would give London an opportunity to genuinely explore a way of providing better support to Londoners as we recover from the pandemic.

Now is the time to invest in our city, and in Londoners, including our young population with its whole future ahead of it. And to be investing in the security a basic income could bring to people of working age of all kinds, and particularly women.

The current Mayor should now take the momentum of gaining political support across different parties, and push for a trial to take place in London as soon as possible.”

The Economy Committee devoted time during two meetings to gathering evidence from experts. In January, Assembly Members heard from Daniel Mermelstein from UBI Labs London, and Ellen Clifford from Disabled People Against Cuts, and discussed how basic income trials could work if supported by Government and local councils. [2][3]



At the second meeting on 2 March 2021, Dr Simon Duffy, Director of the Centre for Welfare Reform, and Alfie Stirling, Director of Research and Chief Economist, New Economics Foundation, spoke about how a basic income can be an effective tool to eliminate poverty and redistribute wealth. [4][5]



In November 2021, 520 elected officials, including many Labour MPs, Welsh AMs, peers and councillors, called on the Chancellor for a basic income trial in their areas. [6] Two councils in London – Islington and Richmond – have passed cross-party motions asking for basic income trials. [7][8]