Eight Attlee versus Blair: Labour governments and progressive social policy in historical perspective
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Robert M. Page
Abstract
This chapter provides a comparison of the achievements of the Attlee government with those of Blair’s New Labour administration. It examines the context, aims, and achievements of the two governments. The chapter also observes that in cricketing parlance, the ‘occupancy of the crease’ of New Labour may result in better long-term gains than shorter, but more entertaining, innings. The Attlee government may be regarded as operating at the more radical end of the reformist spectrum, while Blair’s New Labour government has been criticised for operating at the less radical end.
Abstract
This chapter provides a comparison of the achievements of the Attlee government with those of Blair’s New Labour administration. It examines the context, aims, and achievements of the two governments. The chapter also observes that in cricketing parlance, the ‘occupancy of the crease’ of New Labour may result in better long-term gains than shorter, but more entertaining, innings. The Attlee government may be regarded as operating at the more radical end of the reformist spectrum, while Blair’s New Labour government has been criticised for operating at the less radical end.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
- Introduction 1
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Developments in UK social policy
- Housing policy: coming in from the cold? 13
- The NHS in England: from modernisation to marketisation? 29
- Developments in social security 45
- The rise of the meritocracy? New Labour and education in the second term 61
- The personal social services 81
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Social policy in the wider context
- ‘Scottish solutions to Scottish problems’? Social welfare in Scotland since devolution 101
- The primacy of ideology: social policy and the first term of the National Assembly for Wales 121
- Attlee versus Blair: Labour governments and progressive social policy in historical perspective 143
- Christian democracy, social democracy and the continental ‘welfare without work’ syndrome 167
- Activation through thick and thin: progressive approaches to labour market activation 187
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Social policy since 1979 – the impact of Thatcherism
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the right 211
- Mrs Thatcher’s legacy: getting it in perspective 231
- Privatisation, privatisation, privatisation: the British welfare state since 1979 251
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the USA 271
- Index 291
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
- Introduction 1
-
Developments in UK social policy
- Housing policy: coming in from the cold? 13
- The NHS in England: from modernisation to marketisation? 29
- Developments in social security 45
- The rise of the meritocracy? New Labour and education in the second term 61
- The personal social services 81
-
Social policy in the wider context
- ‘Scottish solutions to Scottish problems’? Social welfare in Scotland since devolution 101
- The primacy of ideology: social policy and the first term of the National Assembly for Wales 121
- Attlee versus Blair: Labour governments and progressive social policy in historical perspective 143
- Christian democracy, social democracy and the continental ‘welfare without work’ syndrome 167
- Activation through thick and thin: progressive approaches to labour market activation 187
-
Social policy since 1979 – the impact of Thatcherism
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the right 211
- Mrs Thatcher’s legacy: getting it in perspective 231
- Privatisation, privatisation, privatisation: the British welfare state since 1979 251
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the USA 271
- Index 291
