Common Sense Policy Group

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

Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, Professor Kate Pickett, and Dr Elliott Johnson standing together holding a copy of “Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything” during the House of Commons event.

On 24 June we held a drop-in at the House of Commons hosted by @neilduncanjordan.bsky.social MP. @profkepickett.bsky.social and Dr Elliott Johnson discussed income security and the economic harms of the proposed welfare cuts.

#BasicIncome #WelfareReformBill #HouseOfCommons #CommonSense

Rod Liddle | 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 on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social with Rod Liddle, discussing how #EconomicInsecurity is reshaping political preference across class lines and the implications of this shift

🎧 Listen from 2:05:00: www.thetimes.com/radio/show/2...

#CommonSense #VoterBehaviour #WelfareReform

Dr Elliott Johnson, speaking to @londonassembly.bsky.social last week, backed basic income as the most effective way to tackle disincentives and address the health, crime and social harm driven by income insecurity.

Watch more:
webcasts.london.gov.uk/Assembly/Eve...

#BasicIncome #AssemblyEconomy

New welfare changes are unfair, worsen incentives, and deliver no savings. Flawed fiscal rules can’t justify damaging cuts or regressive policy. We challenge both the policy and the thinking behind it.

commonsense.northumbria.ac.uk/reports/spen...

#CommonSense #BasicIncome #WelfareReformBill

🚨NEW REPORT🚨

We challenge the flawed assumptions behind the UK Government’s fiscal strategy, exposing the long-term economic damage caused by sustained spending cuts and regressive welfare policies.

Read the full report here: commonsense.northumbria.ac.uk/reports/spen...

#CommonSense #BasicIncome

Poorest parts of England to get £2.2bn more for NHS to cut care inequalities Deprived and coastal areas to get extra cash this year for staff and resources in effort to improve health outcomes

CSPG's Epidemiology Lead @profkepickett.bsky.social in @theguardian.com making the case for Basic Income as a powerful upstream intervention to reduce pressure on the NHS and improve population health in the poorest areas.

Read more: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

#CommonSense #BasicIncome

10:00 25/6/2025 THE CHAMBER, CITY HALL, KAMAL CHUNCHIE WAY Exploring Universal Basic Income in London

#AssemblyEconomy will meet tomorrow to understand the benefits and drawbacks associated with a Universal Basic Income (UBI) – payments made to all people without a means test or work requirement. www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/w...

What are the pros and cons of a Universal Basic Income in London? Tune in to the #AssemblyEconomy meeting from 10am to find out: webcasts.london.gov.uk/Assembly

Upcoming event for #IndependentBookshopWeek!

Basic income can no longer be dismissed as a utopian idea — it’s being tested worldwide. But can it truly transform economies and societies?

📅Fri, 20 June, 7:00 PM: buff.ly/hJcvPU6

PODCAST: Is basic income the answer to our age of crisis? - Transforming Society In this episode, Richard Kemp talks with Howard Reed and Elliott Johnson about the reality of basic income.

@richardmskemp.bsky.social‬ talks with Howard Reed and Elliott Johnson about the reality of #BasicIncome in this episode of the Transforming Society podcast: @plancommonsense.bsky.social‬ buff.ly/xp5P3B3

Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything, talk and Q&A with Kate Pickett – Five Leaves Bookshop Nottingham’s independent bookshop | 14a Long Row, Nottingham NG1 2DH | 0115 8373097

📘 Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything.

Join Kate Pickett for a talk & Q&A to celebrate the launch of the new Policy Press book 'Basic Income'.

📅 Wed 16 July | 7–8:30 PM
📍 Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham
🔗

📘 Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything.

Join Kate Pickett for a talk & Q&A to celebrate the launch of the new Policy Press book 'Basic Income'.

📅 Wed 16 July | 7–8:30 PM
📍 Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham
🔗 buff.ly/CeYrcrz

A book titled “Basic Income: the policy that changes everything”.

Had a small part in the project but get hold of this new book built on excellent scholarship. We HAVE to look to alternatives to giving up to poverty and tweaking unjust systems. 👉🏾 policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/basic-income #basicincome #poverty #publicpolicy