Richard Crossman and the welfare state : pioneer of welfare provision and Labour politics in post-war Britain / / Stephen Thornton

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910778491103321
• Autore: Thornton Stephen <1970->
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: London ; ; New York, NY : , : Tauris Academic Studies, , 2009
• ISBN: 0-7556-2254-5; 1-282-61933-0; 9786612619335; 0-85771-646-8; 1-4416-2906-8; 600-00-2121-6
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (220 p.)
• Collana: International library of political studies ; ; 27
• Disciplina: 941.085092
• Soggetti: Statesmen - Great Britain; Welfare state - Great Britain - History - 20th century; Central government policies; Great Britain Politics and government 1945-1964; Great Britain Politics and government 1964-1979
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Description based upon print version of record.
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references (pages [196]-201) and index.
• Nota di contenuto: TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction: Guide to the book -- Chapter 1: Ideas, Individuals, Circumstances, and Interests -- Chapter 2: Challenging Beveridge -- Chapter 3: The Cunning Plan -- Chapter 4: The Rival -- Chapter 5: Into the Storm -- Chapter 6: A Story Rich in Lessons -- Conclusion: Crossman's legacy.
• Sommario/riassunto: "Generally remembered as a notorious diarist rather than a serious political figure, Richard Crossman's imposing presence in Harold Wilson's Cabinet during the 1964-1970 Labour governments proved, not least to himself, a disappointment. However, in this new reassessment, Stephen Thornton rescues Crossman's political achievements from obscurity. From 1955 to the end of his life in 1974, Crossman was committed to a radical scheme that promised to break Britain free from the existing Beveridge model of welfare provision and ; transform the social security regime in the UK. Although the scheme as Crossman envisaged it was not directly implemented, his actions did prompt highly significant modifications to both Labour and, more surprisingly, Conservative social security policy. Here Crossman's reputation as a towering figure of the patrician Left is rehabilitated as Thornton argues that in the era of New Labour the lessons Crossman learned from his project of welfare reform are more valuable and relevant than ever. Conclusion: Crossman's legacy."--Bloomsbury publishing.