"How to Rescue the Benefits System: Is Universal Basic Income the Answer?"

"How to Rescue the Benefits System: Is Universal Basic Income the Answer?" with Dr. Tom O'Grady

Summary:

The British benefits system is once again becoming a political football. Politicians from both the left and right criticise it as wasteful and ineffective, encouraging laziness and dependency. This talk will explore why our benefits system has become so unpopular and how we might radically redesign it for this era of anxiety and insecurity.In particular we’ll be asking: what if we scrapped universal credit, personal independence payments and all the rest, and replaced them with a universal basic income: an unconditional cash payment made to every citizen? Would it work, would it be popular or would it just lead to new problems of its own? Drawing on his own research and from examples around the world, Dr. Tom O’Grady will show how we can create a welfare system that is kinder but also more effective, legitimate and popular.

Bio:

Dr. Tom O’Grady is Associate Professor of politics at UCL, an experienced lecturer and public communicator, and an expert on the history and politics of the British welfare system. His recent book “The Transformation of British Welfare Policy: Politics, Discourse and Public Opinion” was published by Oxford University Press, exploring political battles over the benefits system from Margaret Thatcher to the rise of Universal Credit and beyond, forming some of the basis for tonight’s talk. At the moment he’s teaching courses on economic inequality, public opinion and research methods as well as working on a new book about the history of punishment in public services, including benefits sanctions and the detention of migrants.

Venue:

Pizza East, Shoreditch
56 Shoreditch High Street
E1 6JJ

Event Running Time:
Doors from 7pm
Introduction: 7:25pm
Lecture: 7:30pm
Q&A: 8:10pm

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