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| Switzerland rejects proposals for unconditional basic income by overwhelming majority | Switzerland rejects proposals for unconditional basic income by overwhelming majority |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Switzerland has voted by an overwhelming majority to reject proposals for a universal basic income.. | |
| Around 78 per cent of voters have rejected the policy, according to projections from the national broadcaster SRF1. | |
| Had it passed, anyone legally residing in Switzerland would have received suggested basic income of 2,500SFr (£1,755) every month whether they worked or not. | Had it passed, anyone legally residing in Switzerland would have received suggested basic income of 2,500SFr (£1,755) every month whether they worked or not. |
| Supporters of the basic income had said that half the work done in Switzerland is unpaid, such as housework and care in the community. | Supporters of the basic income had said that half the work done in Switzerland is unpaid, such as housework and care in the community. |
| They stated that such income would help this work become "more valued". | They stated that such income would help this work become "more valued". |
| Critics attacked the concept as there was no plan of how to fund the costly policy, something supporters said was the responsibility of the Swiss parliament. | Critics attacked the concept as there was no plan of how to fund the costly policy, something supporters said was the responsibility of the Swiss parliament. |
| Indeed, no parliamentary party came out in favour of the policy. | Indeed, no parliamentary party came out in favour of the policy. |
| One of the key issues in the referendum had been the view put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) that the new policy would cause wide-scale immigration due to Switzerland's agreement to the free movement of people with all 28 EU member states. | One of the key issues in the referendum had been the view put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) that the new policy would cause wide-scale immigration due to Switzerland's agreement to the free movement of people with all 28 EU member states. |
| SVP spokeswoman Luis Stamm told the BBC: "Theoretically, if Switzerland were an island [basic income] would be possible. | SVP spokeswoman Luis Stamm told the BBC: "Theoretically, if Switzerland were an island [basic income] would be possible. |
| "You could cut down on existing social payments and instead pay a certain amount of money to every individual. | "You could cut down on existing social payments and instead pay a certain amount of money to every individual. |
| "But with open borders it's a total impossibility. If you would offer every individual a Swiss amount of money you would have billions of people who would try to move into Switzerland." | "But with open borders it's a total impossibility. If you would offer every individual a Swiss amount of money you would have billions of people who would try to move into Switzerland." |
| The basic income was voted alongside four other issues including speeding up the country’s asylum process which was projected to receive 66 per cent in favour. | The basic income was voted alongside four other issues including speeding up the country’s asylum process which was projected to receive 66 per cent in favour. |
| For an issue to be put to referendum, a petition must raise at least 100,000 signatures. | For an issue to be put to referendum, a petition must raise at least 100,000 signatures. |
| The Dutch city of Utrecht is planning a two-year experiment with a similar plan, handing money to residents who already receive welfare benefits. |