Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a regular and unconditional payment given to everyone in society regardless of their income, wealth or work. It guarantees a basic level of financial security for everyone, and makes sure nobody in society falls through the cracks.

We ask what is UBI and how could it help communities in Newbury and across West Berkshire specifically, while also looking at the wider impacts across the UK and around the world?

Chair:

Carolyne Culver - Carolyne is a Green Party councillor in West Berkshire and spent her career in journalism, public relations and teaching. She studied UBI as part of her MA in Global Political Economy.

Panellists:

Scott Santens - Acknowledged by Andrew Yang in his book The War on Normal People as one of those who helped shape his thinking, and described by historian Rutger Bregman as "by far, the most effective basic income activist out there," Scott Santens has lived with a crowdfunded basic income since 2016 and has been researching and advocating for UBI around the world since 2013. He is currently serving on the board of directors of the Gerald Huff Fund for Humanity and is the editor of Basic Income Today, a daily UBI news hub. In 2020, he served as Senior Policy Advisor to Mike Broihier in his campaign for US Senate against Mitch McConnell, and is now advising mayors around the US on their cities' guaranteed income pilots, including in his home city of New Orleans.

Natalie Bennett -Green Party peer. Party leader 2012-16. Sheffield Green Party member.

Olivia Lewis - Olivia wrote her PhD on models of wellbeing before spending ten years as a government social researcher. She has worked for West Berkshire Council as well as being an elected Independent Councillor and former Deputy Leader of Newbury Town Council.