Poverty, exclusion and New Labour

Abstract

With the publication of the Green Paper A New Contract for Welfare the government has set out its analysis of the links between poverty, exclusion and the benefit system. This article traces New Labour thinking on these topics to popular discourses on poverty that constitute a new politics of welfare. In this, Tony Blair has been influenced by the programmes of the Clinton administration designed ‘to end welfare as we know it’. Using the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ report on expenditure in low income households as a case example, it can be shown that the government's New Deals have been moulded by a particular interpretation of the evidence and popular perceptions of poverty. These reforms, it is argued, will increase the coercion of poor people and do little to improve productivity or reduce public expenditure. The article concludes by outlining an alternative approach, based upon the resistance of poor people themselves, combining economic regeneration and community development with appropriate social support.

Conditional citizens? welfare rights and responsibilities in the late 1990s

“…Whilst the Government continues to state that it will not force lone parents with young children or disabled people to accept jobs or training it is clear that ultimately they believe that such individuals have a responsibility to enter paid employment if it is at all possible (see Hyde, 2000;Smith, 1999;Ward, 1999). 5 The centrality of paid work within Labour's welfare reform agenda has been widely commented on (Powell, 2000(Powell, , 1999Lund, 1999;Stepney et al 1999;Deacon, 1998;Plant, 1998;Page, 1997;Levitas, 1998Levitas, , 1996 and certainly a willingness to engage in such work is central to Labour's perspective. For some who remain outside the paid labour market the acceptance in principle of a 'Citizenship Pension' (DSS, 1998a : 37) payable to domestic carers, indicates that the Government recognises the performance of unpaid domestic care work as a valid enough contribution for an individual to claim certain social rights.…”

Making sense of social citizenship: some user views on welfare rights and responsibilities

“…Whilst the Government continues to state that it will not force lone parents with young children or disabled people to accept jobs or training it is clear that ultimately they believe that such individuals have a responsibility to enter paid employment if it is at all possible (see Hyde, 2000;Smith, 1999;Ward, 1999). 4 The centrality of paid work within Labour's welfare reform agenda has been widely commented on (Powell, 2000(Powell, , 1999Lund, 1999;Stepney et al 1999;Deacon, 1998;Plant, 1998;Page, 1997;Levitas, 1998Levitas, , 1996 and certainly a willingness to engage in such work is central to Labour's perspective. For some who remain outside the paid labour market the acceptance in principle of a 'Citizenship Pension' (DSS, 1998a : 37) payable to domestic carers, indicates that the Government recognises the performance of unpaid domestic care work as a valid enough contribution for an individual to claim certain social rights.…”

New Labour and the third way in the British welfare state: a new and distinctive approach?

“…Instead, New Labour is adopting a 'more demanding view of equality of opportunity', an updated version of Crosland's 'democratic equality' or 'real equality of life chances' which means employment opportunity for all and lifeline educational opportunity for all-second, third and even fourth chances. (Brown, 1999: 42-3, 46) Work, or more specifically paid work, is central to the New Labour project (Driver and Martell, 1998;Jordan, 1998;Stepney et al, 1999;McLaughlin et al, 1999):…”