"The London Assembly’s Economic Committee heard £75-a-week income could slash child poverty by 40 per cent in debate.

London councillors are looking at introducing a Universal Basic Income to take on poverty and inequality in the English capital’s Covid-19 recovery.

Green London Mayor candidate Sian Berry and Liberal Democrat assembly member Caroline Pidgeon brought the idea of a welfare shake-up to the London Assembly’s economic committee on Wednesday in a two-hour debate.

Experts told the committee that modelling showed child poverty could be reduced by 40 per cent if everyone received between £60 and £75 per week regardless of income.

But the committee opted to delay a vote on whether to take the matter further until March citing the need for more information.

Berry told The Big Issue that she hoped to trial a Universal Basic Income in different areas of London, citing the possibility of a 10,000 people-strong trial across boroughs to assess its impact."...........

By Liam Geraghty
@LGeraghty23

January 20th 2021