Common Sense Policy Group

Collage-style artwork about sustainable economics, featuring bold phrases like ‘A New Economy Fit for Purpose,’ ‘Ethical,’ ‘Circular,’ and ‘Sustainable,’ with a central blue circular‑arrow diagram symbolizing a circular economy, surrounded by abstract industrial sketches, colourful geometric shapes, and hand‑drawn elements

Payday is this week for some but for millions wages go straight on essentials. With less to spend in the wider economy, demand and growth fall. We need an economy that rewards productive work and gives people the security to build a life, not just get by commonsense.northumbria.ac.uk/act-now/a-ne...

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Dr Elliott Johnson was on LBC @globalplayer.com with @henryriley1.bsky.social discussing the decline in remote jobs and what this means for disabled workers. Listen now from 1hr 11 mins: www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/...

#CommonSense #AccessibleWork #WelfareReform #DisabilityInclusion

Darryl Morris | Times Radio | The Times and the Sunday Times Listen to Times Radio live for the latest breaking news, expert analysis and well-informed discussion covering the biggest stories of the day.

Dr Elliott Johnson joined @darrylmorris.bsky.social on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social on Sunday to discuss Basic Income, how it works, why it’s needed, and its practical feasibility. Listen now from 1:22: www.thetimes.com/radio/show/2...

#CommonSense #BasicIncome #WelfareReform

Book cover of The Good Society: And How We Make It by Kate Pickett. The title appears in large red text on a white background. A small white cube with coloured bars on its faces sits below the title. The author’s name, Kate Pickett, is in red at the bottom, with the line ‘Co-author of The Spirit Level’ underneath

@profkepickett.bsky.social The Good Society: And How We Make It is out tomorrow! www.penguin.co.uk/books/470692...

Featured in today's @theguardian.com piece www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle..., the book is a timely vision for what it takes to create a fairer, healthier, more secure society.

Cover of the Common Sense Policy Group Annual Report titled A Common Sense Review of 2025. The top half has a blue to pink gradient background with the Common Sense Policy Group logo and arrow symbol. The lower half features a collage style graphic with bold yellow and red text including words like ‘Funding’, ‘Promote’, ‘Invest’, and ‘Prevent’, alongside text about sustainable and ethical policies. The website ‘commonsensepolicygroup.com’ appears at the bottom

Our 2025 Annual Report is out now commonsense.northumbria.ac.uk/reports/revi... A year of huge growth for CSPG, with major research and impact across almost all areas of #publicpolicy. 2026 will be even more ambitious.

#CommonSense #BasicIncome #WelfareReform

YouTube video by Richard J Murphy The Economic Case for UBI Just Got Stronger

Brilliant discussion.

Great explanations around why we need to tax passive wealth as much as productive income.

youtu.be/q1cx921XUwU?...

Matthew Johnson’s @fivebooks.com interview just topped @scottsantens.com “Top 10 UBI Articles of 2025” and for good reason! It weaves together the philosophical, economic, and political case for a #BasicIncome scottsantens.substack.com?utm_source=n...

fivebooks.com/best-books/u...

YouTube video by Richard J Murphy The Economic Case for UBI Just Got Stronger

🎙 New podcast with @richardjmurphy.bsky.social The Economic Case for UBI Just Got Stronger

Here we discuss our latest work on economic modelling, public investment, and the case for a #BasicIncome and why it can strengthen security and the economy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1cx...

YouTube video by Richard J Murphy The Economic Case for UBI Just Got Stronger

The Economic Case for UBI Just Got Stronger youtu.be/q1cx921XUwU?...

A collage-style artwork combining photos and graphics about social security. At the top, a red arc reads “Social security for work family and community.” Below it are layered images: a child covering their eyes, a pointing hand, a Jobcentre Plus sign, and a Universal Credit notice about advance payments. Abstract lines and circles connect the elements, with a grey box in the centre that says “We are connected.” The overall design highlights themes of community, welfare, and the UK social safety net

What would real economic security mean for you in 2026? Stable wages, affordable housing, the freedom to plan ahead? Our research shows how fragile the UK's social safety net is commonsense.northumbria.ac.uk/act-now/a-so...

What does economic security look like for you?

#BasicIncome #WelfareReform

A colourful political collage featuring protest scenes, government buildings, and a map of the United Kingdom. Ribbons labelled “Representative,” “Co‑operative,” “Connected,” “Devolved,” and “Responsive” run across the top. In the centre, large text reads “Government for us not just them.” People hold signs with messages such as “Cooperative solutions now,” “Invest don’t punish,” “Not my government,” and “Free the regions.” The composition mixes photographs and illustrations in bright, layered colours.

MPs return to Parliament this week. Will 2026 bring real change?

We believe the priorities should be:
✅ Tackle the cost of living crisis
✅ Provide a social safety net that protects everyone
✅ Build a new economy on public investment

Our vision: commonsense.northumbria.ac.uk/act-now/

Front cover page for Basic Income for Net Zero: Trade Union Perspectives

🚨 NEW REPORT: Basic Income for Net Zero: Trade Union Perspectives

With @ubilabnetwork.bsky.social we interviewed union officers on #BasicIncome. Amid pay crises & job cuts, unions see the potential of #BasicIncome to support a green & just transition.

commonsense.northumbria.ac.uk/reports/basi...

Basic Income for Net Zero - Common Sense Policy Group Basic Income for Net Zero: Trade Union Perspectives Download ‘Basic Income for Net Zero’ This report analyses engagement with UK […]

With @plancommonsense.bsky.social
we have published a report on Basic Income for Net Zero: Trade Union Perspectives

This report is built on interviews with trade union officers and general secretaries. It was a pleasure to have these discussions
commonsense.northumbria.ac.uk/reports/basi...

Budget Blues The Sequel - Common Sense Policy Group Budget Blues The Sequel Common Sense Policy Group published 3 December 2025 by Anna Frances Thew In June, the Common […]

The November budget was a chance to break from failed treasury orthodoxy. Instead we got more tinkering around the edges of the status quo. Our analysis shows why short-term deficit reduction is holding us back.

Read our blog here commonsense.northumbria.ac.uk/budget-blues...

#NovemberBudget2025

This House Supports Replacing the UK's Welfare State with UBI

Dr Elliott Johnson will speak tonight at @uniofstandrews.bsky.social Debating Society, arguing for a #BasicIncome to replace the UK welfare state. We’re thrilled to see Elliott bringing these important ideas to such a historic forum!

www.stadebates.com/event/1e4e24...

#StAndrews #WelfareReform

Huge thanks to Tony Hawks for sharing a copy of Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything with the brilliant satirist Rory Bremner, who’s keen to explore our ideas!

Find out more about the book here - policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/basic-...

Citizen Network members arriving at the House of Lords to share innovations, citizen actions and to ask why public policy is designed to make it difficult to be a citizen.

Yesterday @citizennetwork.bsky.social hit Parliament.

Thanks to @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social and Baroness Hollins for hosting us.

And guests @compassoffice.bsky.social @disrightsuk.bsky.social @learningdiseng.bsky.social @jrf-uk.bsky.social @carefull.bsky.social @plancommonsense.bsky.social …

Act Now is front and centre at the @waterstones.bsky.social shop at the @labouruk.bsky.social Party Conference! Stacks of copies on the main table and signed editions available thanks to @profkepickett.bsky.social! Don't miss your chance to grab one!

#LabourPartyConference #Lab25 #CommonSense

Advocate for radical wealth and social security reform, Tony 'The Fridgeman' Hawks, delivering our book 'Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything' to @resfoundation.bsky.social with a request to talk change.

Thanks very much Tony!

policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/basic-...

Dr Elliott Johnson joined Clare Foges on @lbc.co.uk, cutting through the noise on welfare and health. Tighter eligibility and harsher conditionality harm health, discourage work and reduce the chances of finding meaningful employment.

🎧 Listen from 01:11:28: www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/...

Researchers make their case for Basic Income in the BMJ Public policy experts examining the case for transformative welfare policy and the impact on public health outcomes have outlined their research in a new editorial published by The British Medical Jou...

Public policy experts examining the case for transformative welfare policy and the impact on public health outcomes have outlined their research in a new editorial published by The British Medical Journal – known as @bmj.com

@plancommonsense.bsky.social

#BasicIncome

📰Discover more:

Welfare system is a key public health measure UK approach needs reconsideration to improve inequalities Health, and health inequalities, are almost universally recognised to have substantial social determinants.12 Although the Conservative gover...

The CSPG @northumbriauni.bsky.social has published a @bmj.com editorial ‘welfare system is a key public health measure’.

Welfare cuts have worsened #HealthInequalities. A modest #BasicIncome could improve #health and reduce #poverty and #inequality rates in the UK.

📖 www.bmj.com/content/390/...

Austerity measures to reduce access to and generosity of working age, disability, and childhood benefits have failed to increase growth or curtail rising debt — but have contributed to widening health inequalities, @plancommonsense.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/390/...

Professor Matthew Johnson shares @fivebooks.com that explore the philosophy, politics and urgency of a #BasicIncome - from Marx to Hayek and Guy Standing.

Read the full interview to discover why #BasicIncome really is the policy that changes everything! fivebooks.com/best-books/u...

Universal Basic Income Is basic income a viable policy that changes everything? Matthew Johnson, Professor of Public Policy at Northumbria University, and other members of the 'Common Sense Policy Group' think so. He…

NEW: "There is no alternative" Matthew Johnson, Professor of Public Policy @northumbriauni.bsky.social, chair @plancommonsense.bsky.social, makes the case for basic income:
fivebooks.com/best-books/u...
#BasicIncome #UBI cc @brisunipress.bsky.social

"Basic income is bold but necessary”

Dr @ianrobsons.bsky.social, a community development worker with 30+ years in working-class communities shares how #BasicIncome could transform people's lives in Blyth, Northumberland.

📖 Basic Income OUT NOW: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/basic-...

Great interview with Northumbria's Dr Elliott Johnson on @lbc.co.uk radio, as he discusses the research of the Common Sense Policy Group into the benefits of basic income.

Natasha Devon on LBC UK - Catch Up | Global Player Catch up on the last 7 days of shows from Natasha Devon on LBC UK

“Really thought provoking” – Natasha Devon

Dr Elliott Johnson joined @lbc.co.uk to discuss the transformative power of a #BasicIncome to enhance public health, increase financial security, and empower people across the income distribution.

Listen from 02:10:11 www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/...

Poverty can be tackled Saturday’s Labour in Government: one year on Conference, organised by Claim the Future, drew a packed attendance. Below we reproduce a presentation by Professor Kate Pickett. We…

@profkepickett.bsky.social spoke at Claim the Future’s conference, spotlighting CSPG’s work on #BasicIncome

“A universal, predictable income could give everyone a stable foundation, reducing financial stress and opening up opportunities.”

labourhub.org.uk/2025/07/22/p... @labour-hub.bsky.social

Basic Income Basic Income - The Policy That Changes Everything; This book presents the most comprehensive account yet of how basic income transforms societies for the better. It sets out the ripple effects that wi...

At the centre of the discussion were the key ideas from our new book Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything - a bold policy alternative for a fairer future

📖 Order here: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/basic-...

#BasicIncome #CommonSense