A councillor has urged Hull residents to give universal basic income a chance to be piloted in the city and told them there's "nothing to be lost".

Councillor Jack Haines has said the radical new welfare benefit could "transform the city" and has urged residents to now get behind it.

It comes after Hull City Council agreed to consider proposals for Hull to become the first city in the UK to trial Universal Basic Income (UBI).

The scheme would pay every adult, regardless of income or background free cash - a sum potentially between £50 and £100 a week - with no-strings-attached.

Cllr Haines wants Hull residents to give the scheme a chance, saying the current welfare system does not work.

(Image: Shared Content Unit)

He said: "This pilot won’t cost you in Hull any money, because the funding for the pilot that we have called for will come from the UK central government.

"Those selected in the city for the pilot will receive the money at no expense to anyone else in Hull.

"What we’re calling for is only a pilot and there are no risks or costs attached. If you are curious and open-minded then we really think you should support this idea, as nothing is lost in running a pilot, but there is much that could be gained.

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"We will never support anything that makes working people worse off and evidence suggests that the UBI would mean working people are financially much better off and that’s why we want to look at this."

Councillor Haines said there are many different models of how it might work, but says he is convinced it will help end poverty.

(Image: Richard Addison)

He said: "It does not discriminate against people and there are many different models of how it might work.

"With UBI it is highly expected that there would be a huge reduction in poverty as most studies have evidence to prove this.

"People could have a lot more freedom and free time, they wouldn’t need to work so many long hours this is because they have a Universal Basic Income and can just top this money up with work that suits their needs and lifestyle."

Cllr Haines stressed he would never support any form of universal basic income which would make people worse off in real terms.

He said: "With it being the early stages of what’s quite a fresh radical policy I can see why there may be worry about benefits.

(Image: Getty)

"Myself and peers would want a system of UBI that is either enough so people don't have to rely on benefits or simply a top up on the benefits they already have.

"It’s important to stress that there is no form of UBI we back that would make people worse off in real terms.

"That’s why we want to trial it to see how is best to free people from economic insecurity inequality and poverty."

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Cllr Haines spoke out after Labour councillor, Philip Website branded UBI as "bonkers" and said there's no such thing as "free cash."

He said the new welfare system would cost taxpayers and also encourage employers to pay lower wages. You can read his thoughts on the scheme here.

What happens now?

(Image: iStock)

Councillors have agreed to explore the possibility of Hull being a pilot city for UBI. A UBI steering group will now be set up.

The scheme has also been referred to the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee for further assessment. Hull City Council has said it will consider the proposals closely.

A letter from Matt Dukes, the Council's chief executive, will be sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request Hull is considered as a pilot city.

A spokesperson from the Treasury has confirmed it is expecting the letter from the council and will examine the letter "carefully" when it is received.

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