We are restarting a regular newsletter for Basic Income Network Scotland. Subscribe to our mailing list here.
In these, we will include updates and news on Basic Income, blogs from our network, any upcoming events, and campaign updates from around Scotland and further afield.
News & Updates – Jack
Following a relatively long period of communications inactivity from Basic Income Network Scotland, it feels tempting to summarise everything that has happened in the Basic Income space relevant to Scotland in a chronological “what you’ve missed” type of update. However, we believe it’s important to focus on what’s important now, and what the opportunities for the Basic Income movement might be in the near future.
In many regards, the conditions which prompt many to look to the likes of Basic Income for solutions are still very much present in Scotland.
At the beginning of this year, The Skinny wrote extensively on Scotland’s art sector under pressure – with artists calling for a radical rethink and citing trials like Ireland’s Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) programme. Following consistent, positive impacts across almost all indicators – it was announced last October that the scheme will be extended.
A motion was also passed at STUC Black Workers’ Conference to lobby the Scottish Government to adopt Basic Income in an attempt to remove baseline financial barriers for creative workers.
Similarly, John Pring’s recent book The Department, an expose of the bureaucratic violence of the current social security system, reminds us of why a radical rethink of the DWP and a move towards Basic Income is so desperately needed. (One of our Trustees, Lena, interviewed John recently for the Compass’ members podcast The Reading Room – more on that here).
In short, the case for Basic Income in Scotland is as strong as ever. In our coming monthly updates we will continue to build that case. In our next issues we will have a recap of the wonderful BIEN2024 Congress; and will investigate the move towards Minimum Income Guarantee in Scotland and how it might help the Basic Income Movement.
Engage
Get in touch with team@cbin.scot if you would like to get involved with Basic Income Network Scotland or tell us what kind of activity you would like to see from us.
As we watch the rollout of the Scottish government’s budget, the spiralling cost of living, and the political drama of the Holyrood election campaign start to ramp up over the next year, it will be crucial for us to continue to put Basic Income back on the agenda.
We’ll be in touch with more soon – subscribe to our mailing list here.