UK state should pay for housing, food, transport and internet, says report

‘Universal basic services’ costing about £42bn could be funded through higher taxes, say Jonathan Portes and academics

Free housing, food, transport and access to the internet should be given to British citizens in a massive expansion of the welfare state, according to a report warning the rapid advance of technology will lead to job losses.

Former senior government official Jonathan Portes and academics from University College London make the call for a raft of new “universal basic services” using the same principles as the NHS. They estimate it would cost about £42bn, which could be funded by changes to the tax system.

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from The Guardian http://ift.tt/2xxPXqN