Comment Not likely to stay "universal" for long (Score 1) 177
Based on previous experience, I can't see this proposal staying "universal" for very long, even if the government embraces it. There isn't a single benefit I can think of in the UK that isn't means-tested in some way - even the Personal Tax Allowance that this system might replace.
Convincing the government this is a good idea might be possible; convincing the British populace that everyone - including millionaires and billionaires - should receive this benefit will be next to impossible.
It would be a better use of effort to address the shortcomings of the Universal Credit system - the UK's principal social security payment. It hasn't worked well for Covid, but there is no reason it can't be improved.