Universal basic income of £1,600 a month to be trialled in two places in England

‘A universal basic income will put a solid foundation beneath everybody so they can have a life with security and stop worrying about everything,’ said Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester. Photograph: dragana991/Getty Images/iStockphoto

A universal basic income of £1,600 a month is to be trialled in England for the first time in a pilot programme.

Thirty people will be paid a lump sum without conditions each month for two years and will be observed to understand the effects on their lives.