London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 19, 2025

UK PM to ‘consider’ emergency Universal Credit for workers hit by coronavirus

Nobody should be ‘penalised for doing the right thing’, the Prime Minister said after telling parliament his Government would ‘certainly consider’ introducing emergency universal income to protect those hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
The scheme would help workers facing financial pressure as the economy grinds to a halt due to people self-isolating. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also agreed to hold talks with supporters of the proposed scheme.

Johnson’s comments came after being urged by both the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Labour MP for Cardiff West Kevin Brennan at today’s Prime Minister’s Questions to provide workers affected by the Covid-19 outbreak with ‘an income guarantee’.

Blackford said: ‘Thousands of people are already losing their jobs, it’s happening today. Millions will face the same threat.

‘They need reassurance and support, and they need it today. They need an income guarantee.

For the latest coronavirus updates and coverage in the UK and around the world click here.

‘We must not repeat history. People are worried about their bills, they are worried about keeping a roof over their head.

‘In the last financial crisis, the banks were bailed out but ordinary people were not. Prime Minister, you have it within your power to protect people’s incomes and provide them with peace of mind.’

Johnson agreed to discuss that mater with the scheme’s backers adding: ‘I agree profoundly with what he said about not repeating history.

‘It is very important that as we ask the public to do the right thing for themselves and everybody else, that no-one – whatever their income – should be penalised for doing the right thing, and we will make sure that that is the case.’

Brennan said: ‘On the matter of whatever it takes, it takes more than three-word slogans is what I would say to the Prime Minister.’

He added: ‘We need to get money into the pockets of the workers.

‘Has he seen EDM (Early Day Motion) 302 which I’ve proposed about bringing in a temporary universal basic income to support workers and get money where it is actually needed?’

Johnson replied: ‘I hear the honourable gentleman loud and clear and he’s echoing the point that was already made by the leader of the SNP (Blackford).

‘And of course that is one of the ideas that will certainly be considered.’
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
×