Happy New Year from all Basic Income Network Scotland!
We hope that 2026 brings us love, laughter, and a periodic, unconditional cash payment delivered to us all on an individual basis without means-test or work requirement.
2026 will also see Scotland go to the polls for a Holyrood election in May – presenting a significant opportunity to cement Basic Income firmly on the political agenda. In the meantime, we intend to do everything we can to raise awareness for Basic Income to ensure voters are primed for what will undoubtedly be an important election with implications for the future of social security in Scotland.
In this vein, we are hosting a series of Basic Income Conversations for Artists in Scotland.
These ‘Conversations’ bring artists together to explore what Basic Income is, what it could mean in their lives, and what role they might play in moving the idea forward. Our first Edinburgh event is in just a few days and is fully booked, with a second on 29th March which is open for sign ups. We will be announcing Glasgow dates shortly.
These events draw inspiration from the Basic Income for Artists programme in Ireland, which following a promising impact assessment and hugely positive news coverage, is to be made permanent.
Clearly this has not gone unnoticed in the UK as last week the BBC asked: Should artists get a basic income like they do in Ireland?
The consensus of which seems to be a resounding “Yes”, with Culture Secretary Angus Robertson also “looking into” how a basic income for arts might work in Scotland.
Further exploring the Celtic connection between Scotland and Ireland, trustee Jack Scott discusses in his new blog how Minimum Income Guarantee in Scotland and Basic Income for the Arts in Ireland might bring us ever closer to a full Basic Income.
Back in October last year, we also posted a blog on Heritable Property and Basic Income, submitted by Graeme McCormick.
Read: “The Road to Basic Income”
Since our last newsletter in 2025, there has been plenty going in Scotland. The Scottish Government published their official response to the Minimum Income Guarantee report.
In the response, they laud the work of the independent Expert Panel but claim that efforts to go further with social security reform in Scotland continue to be thwarted by the UK Government due to the arrangements of devolved power. This has led some poverty experts to criticise the response for not giving clear backing to the MIG as a long-term vision. Despite this, the Independent Culture Fair Work Task Force maintains interest in the ideas of Basic Income and MIG.
Craig Dalzell also continues to compellingly argue for a Basic Income not as a utopian dream – but a moral imperative looking ever closer to reality due to examples like the Marshall Islands: Here’s what Scotland can learn from a world’s first.
In-keeping with the attention on Basic Income for artists, last year, key players in Scottish Theatre came together for an event to consider a way through current challenges that theatre faces.
You can read a write-up for that here: Arts players plot a more stable future.
The event considered current challenges in Theatre in Scotland and focused themes of resource sharing, meaningful collaboration, the role of advocacy in helping the sector to move from a reactive position, and how the sector can avoid repeating the same struggles of the past. Unsurprisingly, enthusiasm emerged for Scotland to adopt a similar programme to Ireland’s Basic Income for Artists.
Elsewhere, Basic Income and similar schemes are cited more and more as a solution to precarious forms of work and as serious positive health intervention.
In opposition to the Prostitution Bill, the grassroots organisation Scotland for Decrim argued that “the only way to get people out of sex work who don’t want to do it is to make sure that we have really strong anti-poverty measures”, such as “universal basic income, access to good and stable housing, flexible and free childcare, and adequate mental health support” – as reported here in The Skinny.
Samaritans Scotland are also asking political parties to make suicide prevention a priority in the upcoming election. In their Five Priorities to Save Lives – Samaritans’ urge the forthcoming Scottish Government to deliver a Minimum Income Guarantee as those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged or who live in areas of socioeconomic deprivation have an increased risk of suicidal behaviour.
That’s all from us this month but, as ever, to submit a blog of your own or get in touch with the team, please email team@cbin.scot.
Jack & Lena
Basic Income Network Scotland Board