A Labour government would trial a universal basic income scheme for everyone, according to shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
Liverpool is one of the cities earmarked for 'pilot schemes' to trial the scheme, Mirror Online reports.
Universal basic income is a system where every person receives a fixed sum, regardless of whether they are rich, poor, in work or unemployed.
The idea has been tested in other countries - and earlier this week the ECHO reported that the Scottish government is being urged to scrap sanction-led employment benefits - like Universal Credit - in favour of the basic income approach.
Mirror Online reports that John McDonnell was presented with a report this week that explored whether the scheme would be possible for the UK.
Under Labour, pilot projects would give every person in the trial cities a certain amount of cash every week – regardless of their income.
Mr McDonnell said: “I’d like to see a Northern and Midlands town in the pilot so we have a spread.
“I would like Liverpool – of course I would, I’m a Scouser.
“But Sheffield have really worked hard. I’ve been involved in their anti-poverty campaign and they’ve done a lot round the real living wage.
“I think those two cities would be ideal and somewhere in the Midlands.”
Different universal basic income models could be tested in low-income areas, including one in which a whole community gets basic incomes.
All the means-tested benefits – apart from housing benefit – would be taken away and every adult would pocket, for example, £100 per week.
They would also get an additional £50 for each child they have.
One of the organisations campaigning for Universal Basic Income, the RSA, wants everyone to receive an initial basic income of £2,400 a year for adults - with £1,500 paid to every child.
The idea would be to eventually double the adult payments to £4,800 per person - which would work out at £400 per month .
Mr McDonnell said: “Of course it’s a radical idea. But I can remember, when I was at the trade unions campaigning for child benefit.
“And that’s almost like UBI. You get a universal amount of money just based on having a child. UBI shares that concept. It’s about winning the argument and getting the design right.”
The idea of a Universal Basic Income has already been discussed in Liverpool.
Last year, Labour's deputy group leader Cllr Ann O'Byrne raised the idea of the city bringing in the plan at a full council meeting.
She urged council chiefs to write to the UK Government asking for Liverpool to be considered as a pilot city for any tests of a UBI.
Cllr O'Byrne is now vying to be the new leader of Liverpool City Council and may look to advance this idea if she gets into power.
The idea has also been backed by Walton MP Dan Carden, who said: "We need radical progressive policies to redistribute power and wealth. A Basic Income has the potential to empower people & transform society."
The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) is currently urging the Scottish government to scrap sanction-led employment benefits in favour of the basic income approach.
And it is pretty hopeful, with charity boss Jamie Cook believing Scotland is 'at the brink' of piloting the scheme.
