Localism and poverty in the United Kingdom: the case of Local Welfare Assistance

Abstract

This article focuses on the UK's Coalition Government's plans to abolish the discretionary Social Fund and replace it, at least in part, with Local Welfare Assistance (LWA). The article examines this proposal by locating LWA in debates about localism, the idea of which in policy terms unites the two political parties that make up the Coalition government. The article explores the Coalition government's approach to localism and debates about it, and related issues concerning autonomy, freedom and democracy. It then goes on to examine the reasons for the abolition of the discretionary Social Fund and the Coalition government's plans for LWA. The article notes that LWA is framed by a discourse related to the Coalition government's view of the importance of localised solutions to entrenched economic and social problems. However, it is argued, that in the case of 'exceptional expenses' provision, localism is equally, if not more, problematic than the Social Fund administered by central government. This is because the most problematic aspects of the Social Fund are to continue when LWA is introduced and these problems will be augmented by the difficulties that local politics bring to the relief of poverty. The article concludes that while it is difficult to differentiate whether the Coalition government is planning to localise 'exceptional expenses' support because of ideology or pragmatism, such a move is likely to have a detrimental impact on income poor people.

Implementing a perpetrator-focused partnership approach to tackling domestic abuse: The opportunities and challenges of criminal justice localism

“…Localism has found its way into a variety of policy areas including local economic development neighbourhood planning, housing and welfare assistance and criminal justice (Davoudi and Madanipour, 2013; Grover, 2012; Maclennan and O’Sullivan, 2013; Westwood, 2011). The creation of elected Police and Crime Commissioners is an example of this localism within the criminal justice sector.…”

“…A defining characteristic of localism is the rebalancing of power and relationships via decentralization. With devolved power comes devolved responsibility and decision making to lower tiers of government that is shared – in partnership – with communities, neighbourhoods, local agencies and frontline managers (Clarke and Cochrane, 2013; Davoudi and Madanipour, 2013; Grover, 2012).…”

“…Localism and partnership working have found support across the political spectrum. The devolutionary approach of the Labour government of 1997–2010 had an agreed framework of national minimum standards and policy priorities (Buser, 2013; Grover, 2012). The subsequent Coalition government’s desire to deliver the ‘Big Society’ resulted in the Localism Act 2011.…”

“…Neither has there been commensurate resources to deliver this ‘vision’ (Padley, 2013). Concerns that this brand of localism may result in greater rather than less inequality and inconsistent treatment (the ‘postcode lottery’) remain unresolved (Buser, 2013; Clarke and Cochrane, 2013; Davoudi and Madanipour, 2013; Evans et al, 2013; Grover, 2012; Howard and Moore, 2011; Maclennan and O’Sullivan, 2013).…”

‘Missing out’: Reflections on the positioning of ethnographic research within an evaluative framing

“…The 'community' empowerment initiative at the heart of my research focus was established in the late 2000s, following around a decade or more of UK Government-driven policies targeting areas of 'social exclusion' deemed to be indicative of, and contributory towards, persisting health and social inequalities in the country (Mackenbach 2012). Initiatives delivered under these policies have typically involved varying levels of 'community' participation (Reynolds, Egan et al 2015), reflecting a range of (predominantly neo-liberal) values concerning the rights and responsibilities of citizens in relation to the state (Rose 2000), and localism agendas, or the devolution of responsibilities for welfare to local arenas 7 (Grover 2012). Despite a continued emphasis on the importance of engaging the 'community', the evidence of the impact of such area-based initiatives on health and social inequalities in the UK (and elsewhere), has been found to be lacking and largely inconclusive (O'Mara-Eves, Brunton et al 2013).…”