Exploring Public Attitudes to Welfare over the Longue Durée: Re‐examination of Survey Evidence from Beveridge, Beatlemania, Blair and Beyond

Abstract

It is commonly argued that public support for the welfare state is in long-term decline in the UK. Evidence from the British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA) is typically cited to support this claim, but it only stretches back to 1983. Few would disagree that the Thatcher years offered an unusual socio-political-economic context, which raises a question over whether the BSA's early 1980s baseline provides a misleading view on support for the welfare state over the longue durée. In this article, we explore this issue, piecing together data from the Beveridge era through to the present day, drawing on data from contemporary studies and surveys; opinion polls; and historical government surveys and reports. Our method is undoubtedly a 'second best approach', making use of often limited historical data, which means we remain cautious in offering bold findings. However, we argue there is some evidence to suggest the 1980s were an unusual moment, suggesting the decline in support for welfare is less dramatic than analysis of the BSA might make it seem, but also that support for the welfare state during the postwar consensus years was likely more equivocal than we often believe it to be from today's perspective, perhaps reflecting a tendency to reify this period as a 'golden age' of welfare and so underplaying the complexity of the politics of social policy in the pre-BSA period.

Nostalgia narratives? Pejorative attitudes to welfare in historical perspective: survey evidence from Beveridge to the British Social Attitudes Survey

“…The 1980s saw exceptionally high unemployment combined with a clear programme of spending cuts, potentially adding considerable 'noise' to attitudes data during this period. Our analysis of pre-BSA data suggests a 'bounce thesis' (see also Hudson, Lunt et al, 2016): that there may well have been a clear upturn in support for the welfare state in the 1980s, meaning the BSA data should not be read as capturing the latest stage in a many decades long decline in support for the welfare state so much as capturing an upsurge in support in the 1980s.…”

“…Moreover, we must recognise that there are limits to what we can learn from historical survey data. Here and in work published elsewhere (Hudson, Lunt et al, 2016) we acknowledge data limitations, including design and sampling, and that responses to survey questions reflect the context of the time in which they were asked, precise wording of the questions presented and the answer options offered (Smith, 1987, 76). In presenting a fourfold argument for there being greater continuities in public attitudes than is typically recognised we concede that our evidence is strongest when pointing to earlier examples of anti-welfare state sentiment and qualified support for social security and social services.…”

“…2 Few attitudes surveys were conducted in the 1940s; those that were suggested strong support for the welfare state, but there was not the 'unanimity' sometimes suggested, with cuts in some areas supported and there was a clear hierarchy of support with health and pensions the most popular areas (see Hudson, Lunt et al, 2016) 3 We can only offer a brief review of the data here. Some Gallup polling (Gallup, 1976;Tyler, 1990) on related issues provides some additional support for the bounce thesis.…”

“…A series of questions on support for increased NHS spending also suggest the 1980s was a comparative highpoint of public support, without, though, a 1970s dip, the proportion saying there is 'too little' NHS spending rising from a significant minority in the 1960s (30% in 1961 and 23% in 1965) to a majority (54%) in 1975 and a very strong majority (70%) in 1980 (New Society, 1980). For a fuller discussion of the 'bounce thesis' see Hudson, Lunt et al (2016). 4 Given the subject of the article we focus here on pejorative attitudes, but it may be worth flagging that this survey underlined that pro-and negative-views could be held at the same time; alongside pejorative attitudes 67% felt 'the welfare state in this country is still something we can be really proud of' 5 We have focused here on public attitudes but related and wider debates focus on how a hostile media are a central part of 'a technology of consent' fuelling welfare reform agenda.…”

Introduction to themed special issue: exploring 'welfare' attitudes and experiences

“…In Britain today there is a commonly held view that the majority of the public regard ÔwelfareÕ as inherently and inevitably negative and problematic (Hudson & Lunt, 2016;Jensen & Tyler, 2015;Patrick, 2015;Work and Pensions Select Committee, 2015). Negative characterisations of those who rely on out-of-work benefits are reinforced by a powerful combination of political narrative and popular media rhetoric focused on the deficits of individual behaviours.…”