1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910968314203321

Autore

Thornton Stephen <1970->

Titolo

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

Pubbl/distr/stampa

London ; ; New York, NY : , : Tauris Academic Studies, , 2009

ISBN

9786612619335

9780755622542

0755622545

9781282619333

1282619330

9780857716460

0857716468

9781441629067

1441629068

9786000021214

6000021216

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (220 p.)

Collana

International library of political studies ; ; 27

Disciplina

941.085092

324.2092

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.