Basic income is not a policy. It is not ‘welfare’. Nor is it a magical solution to all manner of societal and economic changes. Basic income is something more difficult, challenging and profound than all these things. It is a new way of thinking about our relationships with the state and with each other. And that makes basic income a highly challenging proposition.

We are challenged to think about how society is changing and how we want it to change. Our politics has become fraught, divided and angry. How in such a context can a big intervention such as basic income become possible? Whatever the future economy that awaits us, and however technology will impact on jobs, income and wealth, what difference will basic income make? These are enormous questions that the quick rush to judgment our democratic debate fosters simply won’t answer.

For me, basic income is a platform for people to live more creative lives. It provides a bedrock of security, enabling people to earn a more stable income, adapt and learn, support their families and their communities, and try something new like setting up a new business. Fundamentally, the idea is to support better work of all types, some unremunerated, and enable better lives and stronger human relationships as a result.

The design of any basic income system is crucial. It needs to encourage work and enable people greater power in the jobs market – including the ability to walk away from demoralising jobs. This would, for example, create new possibilities for trade unions and professional associations to push for better work. Basic income has to ensure individual freedom and encourage us to do more together. Basic income demands experimentation but its core principles are clear – a regular payment that is universal and unconditional.

We are trying to build tomorrow’s society with the politics of today. A bridge to the future is needed. So basic income needs a movement – a pluralistic movement that reaches across political, ideological and interest divides. The best thing that those who consider basic income to be essential can do is widen the tent. That means being open, welcoming, accepting of well-considered criticism and reaching out.

Without this movement, basic income can’t happen.