Thirteen Welfare after Thatcherism: New Labour and social democratic politics
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Stephen Driver
Abstract
This chapter views New Labour as a ‘post-Thatcherite’ party. It is argued that many of the themes of New Labour are not exactly ‘new’ to the ‘old’ European social democracy. The discussion points to an impassive record on employment, and claims that while the impact of government policy on the distribution of income has been equalising, the income gap has been widening. It also points out the differences within Labour, suggesting that Brown’s Britain may be different in terms of choice, diversity, and competition, as compared to Blair’s Britain. It is then suggested that Blairite modernisation does not necessarily undermine the social democratic political economy.
Abstract
This chapter views New Labour as a ‘post-Thatcherite’ party. It is argued that many of the themes of New Labour are not exactly ‘new’ to the ‘old’ European social democracy. The discussion points to an impassive record on employment, and claims that while the impact of government policy on the distribution of income has been equalising, the income gap has been widening. It also points out the differences within Labour, suggesting that Brown’s Britain may be different in terms of choice, diversity, and competition, as compared to Blair’s Britain. It is then suggested that Blairite modernisation does not necessarily undermine the social democratic political economy.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
- Introduction 1
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Current services
- Social security and welfare reform under New Labour 15
- New Labour’s education policy: innovation or reinvention? 33
- Transforming the NHS: the story in 2004 51
- Housing in an ‘opportunity society’ 69
- Personal Social Services 85
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Current issues
- Governance and social policy in Northern Ireland (1999-2004): the devolution years and postscript 107
- At home abroad: the presidential election of 2004, the politics of American social policy and what European readers might make of these subjects 125
- The future of healthcare in the UK: think-tanks and their policy prescriptions 147
- Consumerism and the reform of public services: inequalities and instabilities 167
- The challenges of measuring government output in the healthcare sector 183
- Social investment perspectives and practices: a decade in British politics 203
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New Labour
- A rootless third way: a continental European perspective on New Labour’s welfare state, revisited 233
- Welfare after Thatcherism: New Labour and social democratic politics 255
- A progressive consensus in the making? 273
- New Labour’s family policy 289
- Index 303
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
- Introduction 1
-
Current services
- Social security and welfare reform under New Labour 15
- New Labour’s education policy: innovation or reinvention? 33
- Transforming the NHS: the story in 2004 51
- Housing in an ‘opportunity society’ 69
- Personal Social Services 85
-
Current issues
- Governance and social policy in Northern Ireland (1999-2004): the devolution years and postscript 107
- At home abroad: the presidential election of 2004, the politics of American social policy and what European readers might make of these subjects 125
- The future of healthcare in the UK: think-tanks and their policy prescriptions 147
- Consumerism and the reform of public services: inequalities and instabilities 167
- The challenges of measuring government output in the healthcare sector 183
- Social investment perspectives and practices: a decade in British politics 203
-
New Labour
- A rootless third way: a continental European perspective on New Labour’s welfare state, revisited 233
- Welfare after Thatcherism: New Labour and social democratic politics 255
- A progressive consensus in the making? 273
- New Labour’s family policy 289
- Index 303
