After Liverpool in 2018, Sheffield in 2019 and Hull in January this year, Norwich in July, Leeds in September, the four Councils of Brighton and Hove, York, Glasgow and Derry and Strabane have passed motions in favour of local UBI trials in October.
A local e-petition in Brighton and Hove far exceeded the local threshold of 1250 signatures asking for a local UBI trial. This led to the debate by the Full Council in Brighton and Hove.
York is the fourth Council in Yorkshire which has debated UBI and passed a motion in favour of a local trial. You can follow the debate here and read the article “York councillors to vote on bid to trial Universal Basic Income” in the Yorkshire Post.
In Northern Ireland a third local government Derry City and Strabane District Council debated and passed a motion in favour of a local UBI study. In Scotland Glasgow City Council passed a UBI motion and wants to be at the ‘front of the queue‘ for Universal Basic Income trials.
This week two more councils, Portsmouth and Lewes, have joined the call for local Basic Income trials.
Can we hope against all odds that the UK National Government will listen to the requests of 11 local councils and the devolved nations of Scotland and Wales?