Richard Crossman and the Welfare State: Pioneer of Welfare Provision and Labour Politics in Post-War Britain (International Library of Political Studies)

"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. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 Guide to the book......Page 15 Crossman: A sketch......Page 18 Factors in Social Policy......Page 33 Ideas......Page 36 Individuals......Page 39 Circumstances......Page 44 Interests......Page 47 Summary......Page 48 2. Challenging Beveridge......Page 50 The Beveridge model of national insurance......Page 51 Suggestions for reform......Page 56 Crossman and 'the end of Beveridge'......Page 61 The 1955 Labour Party Conference......Page 65 3. The Cunning Plan......Page 68 The birth of 'half-pay on Retirement'......Page 70 The role of the private sector......Page 77 Owning the country......Page 83 'Stealing Crossman's clothes'......Page 87 Assessment of Crossman's Role......Page 93 4. The Rival......Page 104 The Crossman's rival......Page 106 Work to be done......Page 109 Expanding earnings-relation......Page 111 The income guarantee......Page 114 Summary......Page 119 5. Into the Storm......Page 120 Crossman's temporary exile......Page 121 Crisis management......Page 122 Deeper problems......Page 126 The garbage can......Page 130 Summary......Page 135 6. A Story Rich in Lessons......Page 137 Centre-stage, but too late......Page 138 National superannuation and social Insurance......Page 141 Earnings-relation for all......Page 143 Lowering the 'ceiling'......Page 151 Towards public-private partnership......Page 154 No 'bold investment' after all......Page 165 Summary......Page 171 Conclusion: Crossman's legacy......Page 180 Notes......Page 184 Bibliography......Page 207 Index......Page 213 "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."--Publisher's website