PEOPLE living on benefits would be free from the burden of sanctions if plans for an income for every Glasgow citizen come to fruition.

As the first phase of implementing a basic income model to the city begins, Jamie Cooke, a leading consultant on basic income, said the project would help free those from the pressures imposed by the benefit system.

He said: “At its heart the idea of basic income is to change the relationship between the state and its citizens.

“An example of how basic income is beneficial to people is to look at the current benefit system and the use of sanctions. If a job is offered to the person on benefits they basically have to take it and if they don’t sanctions are imposed, or threatened to be imposed.

“This puts people on benefits under severe pressure to just take a job whether they like it or not.

“But on a basic income the person would have the security to look at different choices instead of signing up to the first thing that is offered to them.

“A basic income will give someone at the mercy of sanctions more freedom to pursue something they find more fulfilling and more beneficial to society.”

The pilot project is to provide a guaranteed sum of money paid by the council to citizens, regardless of their wealth or work status.

And Mr Cooke, of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), stressed it is not just for those living in deprived situations.

He added: “It’s highly important the project includes people from all social demographics.

“If the model targets just those from deprived backgrounds you run the risk of it looking like this is just something for the unemployed.

“This idea is much bigger than that. It’s a foundation stone to wider change which will help improve attainment in schools, employment rates, creation of new businesses and physical and mental health.

“I really believe in the universal nature of rolling out a basic income for all."

The first phase is now underway with talks scheduled to be held to ascertain where in the city the pilot scheme could take place. The pilot project is planned to last two or three years with sums of money ranging from £2,500 to £7,000 to be given to each citizen.