Each
day, we will post a short article by one of Darton, Longman and Todd’s amazing
authors, offering a personal reflection on our current situation in life.
Sometimes this will be written with reference to one of their books, and
sometimes about how they are living in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus and
our current world situation. We hope it will give you a taste of the depth and
diversity of DLT’s list – books for heart, mind and soul that aim to meet the
needs and interests of all.
Today’s
post is by Malcolm Torry, author of Citizen’s
Basic Income: A Christian social policy. You
can buy an eBook copy of the book here, or a physical copy (supply chains allowing) here.
Citizen’s Basic Income: A timely Christian
social policy
I
am writing this article two days after all of the country’s pubs and
restaurants were closed because of the coronavirus, and five days after the
Prime Minister’s Questions during which the following exchanges took place:
Ian
Blackford (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (SNP)
…
This is an unprecedented emergency and it requires an unprecedented response. …
People are worried about their bills and about keeping a roof over their head.
In the last financial crisis, the banks were bailed out, but ordinary people
were not. The Prime Minister has it in his power to protect people’s incomes
and provide them with peace of mind. At this time, an emergency universal
income scheme would do just that. Will he at least commit to meeting all of us
who support that proposal to discuss how we can protect the incomes of all our
peoples?
The
Prime Minister
Yes,
indeed. I can make that commitment …
Kevin
Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab)
…
Has the Prime Minister seen early-day motion 302, which I have proposed, about
bringing in a temporary universal basic income to support workers and get money
to where it is needed?
The
Prime Minister
I
hear the Honourable Gentleman loud and clear. He echoes a point that was made
by the Right Honourable Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber [Ian Blackford]. Of
course, that is one of the ideas that will certainly be considered.[1]
This is the
first time, as far as we know, that a British Prime Minister has made such a
commitment in the House of Commons. But there is a problem: the UK does not
currently possess the database that would be required to enable it to pay a
genuine Citizen’s Basic Income to every legal resident. The database would need
to include everyone’s name, date of birth, contact details, and, crucially,
bank account details, and it would take political will and lots of expertise to
construct it. However, it could be done, [2] and within a relatively short
period of time a Citizen’s Basic Income could be being paid: the same amount of
money to every individual of the same age, without means test, and without work
test.
A Citizen’s Basic Income – sometimes known as a
Basic Income, a Citizen’s Income, or a Universal Basic Income – is an
unconditional income for every individual. The income would be paid regularly –
monthly or weekly – and would be paid without being means-tested, without
contribution conditions having to be satisfied, without work conditions being
fulfilled, and without household structure being taken into account. The amount
might vary with someone’s age, with a standard rate being paid to working age
adults, less for children and young adults, and more for elderly people: but
that would be the only variation, apart from annual upratings. The idea is
simple: everybody of the same age would receive the same amount of money, every
week, or every month.
The introduction of the book Citizen’s Basic
Income: A Christian social policy describes the characteristics and history
of the UK’s benefits and tax systems; shows why the benefits system needs to
change; and defines a Citizen’s Basic Income as above. It answers some
questions frequently asked: For instance: Would people still work? (Yes, they
would be more likely to do so); and: Why pay money to the rich when they don’t
need it? (Because that’s efficient; it creates social solidarity; it prevents
errors and stigma; and in any case the rich can have their tax rates raised so
that they wouldn’t end up with additional money.) A brief history of the
Citizen’s Basic Income debate is followed by a statement of the purpose of the
book: To employ aspects of the Christian Faith to evaluate Citizen’s Basic
Income as a reform option.
Nineteen chapters then follow, with each one asking
how a Citizen’s Basic Income would cohere with a particular aspect of the
Christian faith. The chapter titles provide a useful summary of the book:
1.
Citizen’s
Basic Income would celebrate God-given abundance
2.
Citizen’s
Basic Income would be an act of grace
3.
Citizen’s
Basic Income would recognise our individuality
4.
Citizen’s
Basic Income would recognise God’s equal treatment of us
5.
Citizen’s
Basic Income would provide for the poor
6.
Citizen’s
Basic Income would not judge
7.
Citizen’s
Basic Income would constantly forgive
8.
Citizen’s
Basic Income would ensure that workers would be paid for their work
9.
Citizen’s
Basic Income would be the basis of a covenant
10. Citizen’s Basic Income would inspire us
to be co-creators
11. Citizen’s Basic Income
would understand both our original righteousness and our original corruption
12. Citizen’s Basic Income would recognise
our mutual dependency
13. Citizen’s Basic Income would facilitate
a more just society
14. Citizen’s Basic Income would promote
liberty
15. Citizen’s Basic Income would both
relativise and enhance the family
16. Citizen’s Basic Income would facilitate
the duty to serve
17. Citizen’s Basic Income would
be welcoming and hospitable
18. Paying for Citizen’s Basic
Income
19. Citizen’s Basic Income would
be an act of love
Conclusion:
Citizen’s Basic Income: A Christian social policy
Appendix
1: Two feasible Citizen’s Basic Income schemes for the UK
Appendix 2: Alternative
options for the reform of the UK’s tax and benefits
How
could Christians contribute to the growing public and political debate about
Citizen’s Basic Income? First of all, by reading Citizen’s Basic Income: A
Christian social policy; secondly, by discussing the subject with members
of their Church, and with others too - online or by phone at the moment, of
course; and thirdly, by discussing the idea with their Member of Parliament –
by email or phone.
Perhaps
a Citizen’s Basic Income won’t happen just yet: but one day it might; and it
might happen more quickly if every Christian in the UK were to engage with this
Christian social policy.
~
Footnotes:
[1]
https://citizensincome.org/news/prime-ministers-questions-questions-about-citizens-basic-income/
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