Prime Minister Boris Johnson has agreed to meet opposition leaders to discuss the idea of introducing a temporary universal basic income (UBI) during the coronavirus pandemic.

Faced with questions from the SNP’s Ian Blackford at PMQs about how workers will be protected during the crisis, Johnson agreed to meet other party representatives to discuss UBI.

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“People should not be punished for doing the right thing,” Johnson said.

The idea of UBI, popular among left-wing circles, involves giving every citizen a guaranteed income to help them to live. UBI is usually proposed as a solution to automation, as machines and computers come to replace manual jobs.

Yesterday, the PM announced a £330 billion economic package to help individuals and businesses through the crisis. It seems he’s seriously considering going further.

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