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The Conservative Governments and Social Policy

Online ISBN:
9781447365860
Print ISBN:
9781447365822
Publisher:
Policy Press
Book

The Conservative Governments and Social Policy

Hugh Bochel (ed.),
Hugh Bochel
(ed.)

Emeritus Professor of Public Policy

University of Lincoln
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Martin Powell (ed.)
Martin Powell
(ed.)

Professor of Health and Social Policy

University of Birmingham
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Published online:
19 September 2024
Published in print:
9 January 2024
Online ISBN:
9781447365860
Print ISBN:
9781447365822
Publisher:
Policy Press

Abstract

This book examines the Conservative governments and social policy from 2015 to 2023. That period was clearly remarkable in a number of respects. As well as the Brexit process, which dominated policy making in the UK in the early years, there was the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and a ‘cost of living crisis’ amplified by the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Those events contributed to turmoil within the Conservative governments, with five prime ministers in that time. Considering a range of social policy areas, the book highlights the different rhetorical and policy emphases of the period, such as Cameron’s ‘Big Society’, May’s ‘burning injustices’ and Johnson’s ‘levelling up’. Notably, however, in most instances, contributors conclude that policy change did not reflect the rhetorical ambitions of Prime Ministers and other ministers. However, despite the variety of external and internal pressures on the government, there were clear ideological preferences for lower levels of public expenditure and a smaller welfare state among many leading Conservatives, even if social and economic factors meant that they were frequently unable to progress those.

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