Jonathan Portes, in his 2017 report Universal Basic Services: Future for Our Welfare State, co-authored with Andrew Percy and Henrietta Moore, advocates for a transformative approach to the UK’s welfare system. The report proposes expanding the welfare state to provide universal access to essential services such as housing, food, transport, and internet access, building upon the principles that underpin the National Health Service (NHS) and public education. This model, termed Universal Basic Services (UBS), aims to address the challenges posed by technological advancements and economic shifts that threaten job security and income stability. By focusing on providing these services universally, the report suggests that the state can ensure equitable access to necessities, thereby reducing inequality and enhancing social cohesion.
The report also presents a fiscal analysis, estimating that implementing UBS would cost approximately £42 billion, about 2.3% of the UK’s GDP. This expenditure could be funded through adjustments to the personal tax allowance, making the proposal fiscally neutral. The authors argue that UBS would be a more sustainable and effective response to economic challenges than Universal Basic Income (UBI), as it focuses on providing direct access to essential services rather than cash transfers. Furthermore, UBS could rejuvenate local democracy by involving communities in the design and delivery of services, fostering greater civic engagement and responsiveness to local needs.