A plumbing boss has blasted the ‘absolutely ridiculous’ universal benefits trial will hand £1,600 a month to people who will not be obliged to work.
A group of 30 people are set to take part in England’s first ever trial of a universal income scheme.
Over a period of two years, they will receive the monthly lump sum without any conditions while researchers monitor what effects the cash has on their lives.
But hard-working Britons have lashed out at the scheme for the ‘unfair system’ that they alleged ‘encourages people not to go to work’.
Charlie Mullins, founder of Pimlico Plumbers, told MailOnline that he fears the financial burden of the trial could fall on tax payers.
Charlie Mullins, (pictured in 2016) founder of Pimlico Plumbers, told MailOnline the scheme was ‘absolutely ridiculous’
People have been hitting out at the scheme, saying ‘hard working doesn’t pay’
Mr Mullins said: ‘They are encouraging people not to go to work and sending out the wrong message.
‘There’s only so much in the government’s pot. That money needs to be replaced, that means people putting it in the pot have got to work harder – or pay more tax.
‘It’s an unfair system.’
He added: ‘All they are doing is throwing money away, wasting money. They are ignoring the basic facts of where will this money come from.
‘It’s a crazy idea. Why are they giving people money for nothing?’
The money will be given to 15 participants in Jarrow, south Tyneside, and 15 in East Finchley, north London.
They will be paid ‘without a requirement to work or to demonstrate willingness to work’.
One critic wrote online: ‘Pensioners like me worked all our lives and getting £205 a week. Someone will be getting paid almost double than me. Hard working doesn’t pay.’
Another said: ‘I’ve worked all my life, 40/50 hours a week and am due to retire. With my state pension AND my small works pension, I will not get anywhere near that amount a month! This is not right but of course, we know why it’s being done. Total reliance on the state and all that brings!’
One person explained his issue with the scheme, writing online: ‘This Universal Basic Income trial – here is where I have a massive problem with it: There will be people, many millions, working 40 hr weeks, with the ‘costs’ of work, and earning less than UBI.
‘But they will still be taxed to fund UBI. That is unfair by EVERY measure.’
But other people were intrigued by the scheme, with one saying they were interested to see the results and pointed out it had worked in other countries.
Another argued it would result in ‘certainly happier people’.
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Cleo Goodman, Co-Founder of Basic Income Conversation, said: ‘No one should ever be facing poverty, having to choose between heating and eating, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
‘Basic income has the potential to simplify the welfare system and tackle poverty in Britain.’
Will Stronge, director of research at the think-tank Autonomy which is running the scheme, said the £1,600 figure was a ‘substantial’ amount.
Over a period of two years, participants will receive the monthly lump sum without any conditions while researchers monitor what effects the cash has on their lives
Opinions were mixed on the universal basic income pilot scheme
He said: ‘A guaranteed basic income could be transformative for welfare in this country.
‘All the evidence shows that it would directly alleviate poverty and boost millions of people’s wellbeing. The potential benefits are just too large to ignore.
‘With the decades ahead set to be full of economic shocks due to climate change and new forms of automation, basic income is going to be a crucial part of securing livelihoods in the future.’
He earlier told The Guardian: ‘Universal basic income usually covers people’s basic needs but we want to see what effect this unconditional lump sum has on people’s mental and physical health, whether they choose to work or not.
‘Our society is going to require some form of basic income in the coming years, given the tumult of climate change, tech disruption and industrial transition that lies ahead.
‘This is why building the evidence base and public engagement now is so important, so the ground is well prepared for national implementation.’
Costing more than £1.6million to run, the project will also monitor the experiences of a control group who will not be paid anything.
Similar studies are under way in countries such as the US, and last summer the Welsh government launched a trial which pays £1,600 per month to more than 500 young adults leaving care.
Matt Leach, chief executive of Local Trust said the initiative ‘could provide a model for other universal basic income schemes across the country’.
He added: ‘It demonstrates how a programme like Big Local, which provides resident-led, long-term funding can help communities to identify and start to proactively address their own needs, partnering with others to bring much needed resources into their area.’
