Andrew White

I loved everything about this production.
Good times! 👍

Calls grow for basic income scheme for artists in England and Wales after Ireland’s success "The positive economic impact this report has revealed is a very encouraging outcome for the sector and the general public."

Calls grow for basic income scheme for artists in England and Wales after Ireland’s success

leftfootforward.org/2025/11/call...

After a week of faffing around the @dailymail.co.uk have agreed to apologise. Here it is. Fingers crossed for fewer lies/smears dressed up as news in future

Universal basic credit would create a fair AI economy Predistribution, not redistribution, is needed to close the inequality gap

As AI spreads across all enterprises, our divided societies will fracture further unless there is some form of distribution that shares the wealth.

My piece on Universal Basic Capital in the @financialtimes.com mes.com

www.ft.com/content/9b93...

The Netherlands May Become the First Country With a Universal Basic Income D66's Dutch election win was fueled by a universal basic income plan, backed by trials showing removing work rules boosts well-being without hurting employment

New on my Substack about how the election that just happened in the Netherlands may soon result in the Dutch attaining first place in the race for Universal Basic Income. What happened and why did it happen? Give it a read!

D66's Rise on Social Liberal Platform Sparks Debate on Shifting Political Labels The Hague - The strong performance of the Dutch political party Democrats 66 (D66) in the general election on October 29, 2025, where they tied for the most seats, has ignited a conversation about the evolution of political ideologies. Running on an explicitly social liberal platform, D66's success, which included a proposal for an "individual basic amount" akin to a Universal Basic Income (UBI), has led many to observe a notable shift in how such policies are framed – from being decried as "Socialist" just a few years ago to now being considered "pragmatic centrism." In the recent election, D66, led by Rob Jetten, secured 26 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, a significant gain that positioned them as a major force in the coalition negotiations.[1][2] Their campaign was characterized by a positive and forward-looking message, with analysts noting that voters were drawn to their "stable, centrist coalition" appeal.[3] A key plank of their platform was the introduction of an "individual basic amount," a policy aimed at simplifying the current complex benefits system.[4] This proposal is seen by many as a form of UBI, an idea that has been debated in the Netherlands for decades. Historically, the concept of a basic income has seen support from various corners of the Dutch political landscape. As far back as the 1990s, figures within D66 publicly favored the idea.[4] The GreenLeft party (GroenLinks) has also previously endorsed a form of negative income tax with the long-term goal of a basic income.[4] However, mainstream parties, including the Labour Party (PvdA) and the conservative VVD, have historically been more hesitant or outright opposed, often raising concerns about the work ethic and the underlying principles of the existing social security system.[5] The recent success of D66's proposal has prompted reflection on a potential shift in the political discourse.

D66's "Individual Basic Amount": A Closer Look at the Proposal The social-liberal party D66 has centered its successful 2025 election campaign on a significant overhaul of the Dutch social security system, introducing a proposal for an "individual basic amount" for every adult citizen. This plan, a cornerstone of their manifesto, aims to replace the current complex web of benefits and allowances with a single, more direct form of income support. Core Principles of the Proposal: The fundamental idea behind the "individual basic amount" is to provide a foundational income floor for all adults in the Netherlands.[1][2] This would function in two primary ways: For those with sufficient income: It would act as a tax credit, reducing their overall tax burden.[3][4] For those with little to no income: It would be disbursed as a direct cash payment.[3][4] This system is designed to simplify the current labyrinthine benefits system, which D66 argues is overly bureaucratic and often difficult for citizens to navigate.[1] The party's manifesto explicitly states the goal is to move towards a system that offers more financial security and simplicity. Phasing Out Existing Benefits: A key component of the proposal is the gradual elimination of several existing allowances. The health and childcare allowances are specifically targeted to be eventually scrapped and integrated into the new "individual basic amount."[5] This consolidation is intended to streamline support and reduce the administrative overhead associated with the current multi-benefit system. Funding the Transition: D66 plans to finance this ambitious overhaul through a broader restructuring of the tax system. One of the primary funding mechanisms outlined is the phasing out of the existing mortgage interest tax relief.[6] Additionally, the party has proposed increasing taxes on wealth and introducing a "millionaire's tax" to generate further revenue. This approach signals a shift in the tax burden...

This just happened in the The Netherlands today. The centrist "D66" party, running on a platform that includes a universal basic income, won the most votes, positioning its leader to become the new PM. You heard that right, UBI is now a moderate position there and seen as a pragmatic solution to AI.

Reporters (every day): are you seeking a third term

Trump: the constitution says I can’t run again, unfortunately

Reporters: but you could run for vp?!!!

Trump: sure but people wouldn’t like that, it’s too cute

Reporters: there have to be other ways sir. We will find them for you, stand by

Exclusive: Amazon targets as many as 30,000 corporate job cuts, sources say Amazon is planning to cut as many as 30,000 corporate jobs beginning Tuesday, as the company works to pare expenses and compensate for overhiring during the peak demand of the pandemic, according to three people familiar with the matter.

30,000 jobs *poof* gone, which would be fine if automation actually benefitted us all instead of just massively enriching a few soon-to-be trillionaires while depressing incomes for most everyone else. Both universal basic income and healthcare need to be part of our more automated future.

Or else.

A very good article here on the basic income and the particular benefits for musicians and other creative workers.

People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to “go home”. This is their home.

I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.

Ireland’s basic income scheme for artists points at how governments could help sectors in crisis It’s one of the first to make it out of the pilot stage and to offer a subsistence level payment.

Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts scheme's indefinite extension is a significant boon for Irish artists, and those fighting for better working conditions in the creative industries elsewhere. I have written about it here:
theconversation.com/irelands-bas...
@kingscmci.bsky.social #UBI #BasicIncome

this is obviously appalling - and he should lose his job - but it's also really quite shocking; I first met Calgie when he was a baby reporter in his early twenties and sure, he was always a Tory, but he was....fine and normal? right-wing radicalisation is out of control in SW1

Ireland’s basic income scheme for artists points at how governments could help sectors in crisis It’s one of the first to make it out of the pilot stage and to offer a subsistence level payment.

It’s one of the first to make it out of the pilot stage and to offer a subsistence level payment.

HEY! How is everyone?

We need to be much more active over on this lovely platform.

So … last week's ep has just gone up. It's an asylum special with the amazing @loucalvey.bsky.social.

Get us on YouTube, Spotify and all other pod apps.

youtu.be/Fzd6LihWAkc

open.spotify.com/episode/3K5A...

Budget 2026: Basic income for artists to become permanent The Basic Income for the Arts scheme will be put on a permanent footing in the Budget tomorrow.

Great news, everyone! Looks like Ireland is making their Basic Income for Artists program permanent! This is after a recent public consultation that showed 97% support for the program.

The other day, literally in 2025, there were high-profile, liberal-identifying media people still handwringing over the use of "deplorables" a decade ago in a campaign speech. When this staggering rhetoric, and what it leads to, is what we hear from the head of the US.

Happiness, humour, truth and, most crucially, courage are the qualities needed to repel the racist tide.
Because its architects offer whining, victimhood, lies and, most crucially, cowardice.

Fiery interview with Ed Miliband at Labour conference @lcefuk.bsky.social

Says “the stakes couldn’t be higher” in the fight with Reform

Says Musk is dangerous

Says Labour has to fight the battle of ideas and hasn’t done a good enough job on that so far

Good god I hope so

bsky.app/profile/ness...

Violent crime plunges 13% in London as homicide rate less than Paris and Berlin Despite there being ‘tens of thousands of fewer victims,’ Mayor of London Sadiq Khan acknowledged that ‘one death and one crime will always be too many’

Violent crime in London has dropped by 13%—a fall of nearly 10,000 attacks a year—as the capital records its lowest homicide rate in five years. www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...

Labour had 9.7 million voters in July 2024.

2 million (20%) now don't know, but haven't chosen a rival. These prefer Lab & centre-left to right

2.6 million to centre/left (27%)
900k Labour to LD (9%)
800k Labour to Green (8%)
900k across others (9%)

800k Lab 2024 to Reform (8%)
A sliver to Cons

Moskowitz: Do you think the Epstein list should come out?

Farage: I have no opinion on it.

Raskin: It’s been reported that he’s called for it to be released

Moskowitz: I have it here. Do you agree with yourself?

Rep. Jamie Raskin tears into Nigel Farage as a "far-right pro-Putin politician" and a "Donald Trump sycophant and wannabe".

The president is sending the military to control American cities and if you're a reporter who's framing that illegal power grab as "pushing the boundaries of constitutionality" or "acting boldly to fight crime" or whatever, please go find another line of work where you won't get us all killed.

If you're in Ireland, please fill out this public consultation about the future of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, the best thing that's happened to Irish artists in a very long time. We need it to continue.

ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...

Exciting Announcement! | Maximilian Mayer Exciting Announcement! Coming soon: "The Digitalisation of Memory Practices in China: Contesting the Curating State", published with Bristol University Press and Policy Press. Our volume explores how memory is curated in China amidst rapid digital transformation. By introducing the concept of the 'curating state', it reveals how official memory and heritage-making use and are shaped by digital tools, fostering hybrid and sometimes democratised memory practices. Featuring insights from leading Chinese and international scholars—including Ian Johnson, Antonie Angerer, Florence Graezer Bideau, Margaret Hillenbrand, Hongwei Bao, Hu Xihua, Frederik Schmitz, Li Hongtao, Vivien Markert, Elena Meyer-Clement, David O’Brien, Melissa Shani Brown, Linjie Wang, Guobin Yang. Relevant for anyone interested in the dynamic interplay between memory, media, and power in contemporary China—and beyond. I would like to express my gratitude to all the dedicated contributors and supporters, and especially my co-editor, Frederik Schmitz. Thanks also for the support of The University of Bonn, the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Academy of International Affairs NRW and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Stay tuned for more updates.

More information here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Put these on the pile with the “private school exodus” that never was