I back the Mayor over ‘circuit breaker’, but it must come with income support

London needs a short, effective lockdown with universal income support.

We have seen today a letter from the Mayor and a Government announcement that London is entering Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions from midnight tomorrow.

The rapid rise in virus cases is incredibly worrying. I support the Mayor’s call for a short circuit breaker lockdown, but I am also asking for these measures to come with a Universal Basic Income as the simplest, most effective way to protect lives and guard against a new wave of poverty.

This morning at Mayor’s Question Time I told the Mayor that now is the time for a strong united call from London to short-circuit the complexity of current systems of support and welfare, and bring in a basic income that would stop anyone facing hardship from falling through the gaps this winter.

For the new restrictions to be effective, we also need the Government to get in place a properly-funded local test and trace service, without the failures of the privatised and centralised system that has let down so many people. For months, the Greens have been warning that Government measures are not going far enough to halt a second wave.

A short, effective lockdown combined with universal income support, where no one can fall through the cracks into destitution, is what our citizens need at this crucial time. This is how we can work together as a city to save lives.

My comments have been reported in the Metro, along with a discussion about universal basic income

Watch my comment and question to the Mayor: