The case for introducing a universal basic income (UBI) for all citizens has been strengthened “immeasurably” by the coronavirus pandemic, Nicola Sturgeon has insisted.
Scotland’s first minister said she had “long been interested” in the concept which would see existing means-tested benefits replaced with a flat rate income, regardless of earnings, to all citizens.
But the SNP leader also said it would require the cooperation of the UK government, as she highlighted recent proposals from Reform Scotland suggesting adults should be given £5,200 per year – £100 per week.
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It comes as the latest figures show 1.2 million people have made claims for universal credit in the past three weeks as government measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus brought swathes of the economy to a standstill.
The think tank said a basic income would ensure “financial certainty to the many people who have been thrown into a sudden and catastrophic loss of employment or reduced hours” as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
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A man walks down a deserted Camden High Street
Photos Angela Christofilou
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Goodge Street Station is one of the many stations closed to help reduce the spread
Angela Christofilou
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An empty street in the heart of Chinatown
Angela Christofilou
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People in masks in Chinatown a day after the lockdown
Angela Christofilou
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A near-empty Piccadilly Circus during the first week of lockdown
Angela Christofilou
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Sonja, my neighbour, who I photographed while taking a short walk. It was nice to briefly chat even from a distance
Angela Christofilou
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A couple sit on the empty steps of the statue Eros in Piccadilly Circus
Angela Christofilou
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Making sure I stay two-meters apart – D’Arblay Street, Soho
Angela Christofilou
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A mannequin behind a shop window. UK stores have closed until further notice
Angela Christofilou
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A notice displayed on a shop window in Camden
Angela Christofilou
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As part of the lockdown, all non-essential shops have been ordered to close.Image from Camden High Street
Angela Christofilou
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A skateboarder wearing a mask utilises his exercise allowance in the Camden area
Angela Christofilou
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Communities have been coming together in a time of need
Angela Christofilou
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A woman stands alone in a deserted Oxford Street. Up until a few weeks ago, on average, half a million people visited the street per day
Angela Christofilou
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A couple walk hand in hand down a street in Soho, a day before the stricter lockdown was announced
Angela Christofilou
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During the first week of March, shoppers focused on stockpiling necessities ahead of a countrywide lockdown
Angela Christofilou
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Many supermarkers are operating a queuing system to make sure only a limited amount of customers are allowed in at anyone time
Angela Christofilou
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‘Stay Safe’ – Curzon cinemas are temporarily closed under the new measures
Angela Christofilou
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Pubs, restaurants and bars were ordered to shut as part of the lockdown
Angela Christofilou
![Camden High Street](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-11.jpg)
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There are fears that coronavirus could lead to permanent closure of struggling shops
Angela Christofilou
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Camden Town is eerily silent on a normal working day
Angela Christofilou
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Shops and supermarkets ran out of hand sanitisers in the first week of the lockdown. As we approach the end of the second week most shops now have started to stock up
Angela Christofilou
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Empty streets around Soho
Angela Christofilou
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A noticeboard on Camden High Street urges the public to stay at home
Angela Christofilou
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Camden High Street, one of London’s busiest tourist streets turns quiet
Angela Christofilou
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Thriller Live confirmed its West End run ended in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak
Angela Christofilou
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Empty and eerie Soho streets after stricter rules on social distancing announced
Angela Christofilou
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A woman pauses for a cigarette on Hanway Street, behind Tottenham Court Road
Angela Christofilou
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A man steps outside onto Hanway Street, that sits behind what is usually a bustling retail hub
Angela Christofilou
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A man walks down a deserted Camden High Street
Photos Angela Christofilou
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Goodge Street Station is one of the many stations closed to help reduce the spread
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-17.jpg)
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An empty street in the heart of Chinatown
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-1.jpg)
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People in masks in Chinatown a day after the lockdown
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-25.jpg)
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A near-empty Piccadilly Circus during the first week of lockdown
Angela Christofilou
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Sonja, my neighbour, who I photographed while taking a short walk. It was nice to briefly chat even from a distance
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-14.jpg)
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A couple sit on the empty steps of the statue Eros in Piccadilly Circus
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-22.jpg)
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Making sure I stay two-meters apart – D’Arblay Street, Soho
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-10.jpg)
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A mannequin behind a shop window. UK stores have closed until further notice
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-2.jpg)
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A notice displayed on a shop window in Camden
Angela Christofilou
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As part of the lockdown, all non-essential shops have been ordered to close.Image from Camden High Street
Angela Christofilou
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A skateboarder wearing a mask utilises his exercise allowance in the Camden area
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-29.jpg)
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Communities have been coming together in a time of need
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-20.jpg)
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A woman stands alone in a deserted Oxford Street. Up until a few weeks ago, on average, half a million people visited the street per day
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-27.jpg)
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A couple walk hand in hand down a street in Soho, a day before the stricter lockdown was announced
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-15.jpg)
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During the first week of March, shoppers focused on stockpiling necessities ahead of a countrywide lockdown
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-16.jpg)
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Many supermarkers are operating a queuing system to make sure only a limited amount of customers are allowed in at anyone time
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-26.jpg)
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‘Stay Safe’ – Curzon cinemas are temporarily closed under the new measures
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-7.jpg)
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Pubs, restaurants and bars were ordered to shut as part of the lockdown
Angela Christofilou
![Camden High Street](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-11.jpg)
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There are fears that coronavirus could lead to permanent closure of struggling shops
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-12.jpg)
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Camden Town is eerily silent on a normal working day
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-18.jpg)
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Shops and supermarkets ran out of hand sanitisers in the first week of the lockdown. As we approach the end of the second week most shops now have started to stock up
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-19.jpg)
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Empty streets around Soho
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-24.jpg)
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A noticeboard on Camden High Street urges the public to stay at home
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-8.jpg)
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Camden High Street, one of London’s busiest tourist streets turns quiet
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-5.jpg)
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Thriller Live confirmed its West End run ended in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak
Angela Christofilou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/04/03/13/London-lockdown-13.jpg)
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Empty and eerie Soho streets after stricter rules on social distancing announced
Angela Christofilou
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A woman pauses for a cigarette on Hanway Street, behind Tottenham Court Road
Angela Christofilou
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A man steps outside onto Hanway Street, that sits behind what is usually a bustling retail hub
Angela Christofilou
Reform Scotland said the scheme would cost the Scottish government £20.4bn per year, but suggested raising over £18bn through scrapping personal tax allowances alongside some traditional benefit payments.
“Our current social security system is overly complicated, and actively discourages work because the loss of benefits when a person start work can often leave them losing money. People are suffering from the pandemic because they are doing the right thing by government. Now the government must do the right thing by the people.”
In response, Ms Sturgeon said: “This is an interesting and timely read from Reform Scotland – I’ve long been interested in concept of UBI but the current situation strengthens the case immeasurably.”
She added it would require the cooperation of the UK government as the Scottish parliament did not currently have the powers. “But hopefully we can have a serious discussion,” she said.
Last month, Rishi Sunak rejected calls for a basic income to deal with the financial insecurity many people across the country are experiencing as a result of the coronavirus and government restrictions on public life.
Speaking in the Commons after Boris Johnson announced the current lockdown, the chancellor insisted the government had already injected more money into welfare, as over 170 MPs urged ministers to support a basic income.
“We’re not in favour of a universal basic income, although we have strengthened the safety net for the most vulnerable in our society with over £7bn invested in improving our welfare system,” Mr Sunak said. “Those payments are all available much quicker, much easier and more generously than they were before and I know that will make an enormous difference to many vulnerable people.”