The Evolution of the UK Welfare State: A Comparative Analysis

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the development of the welfare state in the United Kingdom, focusing on the roles and impacts of both the Labour and Conservative parties. It begins by introducing the Labour Party's core values and its historical significance in British politics, highlighting its commitment to social and welfare issues. The essay then delves into a comparative analysis of the policies implemented by Conservative governments from 1979 to 1997 and the subsequent New Labour period from the late 1990s to 2010. It examines the economic and social policies of both periods, including their approaches to inflation, economic growth, employment, and social welfare. The essay contrasts the Conservative emphasis on reducing inflation and promoting traditional values with the New Labour focus on modernizing public services and reducing social and economic gaps. It also discusses the impact of these policies on the British economy, industrial growth, and the standard of living. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of adapting policies to meet changing societal needs and the consequences of failing to do so, drawing on the case study to illustrate the evolution of the UK's welfare state. The essay references several books and journals to support its arguments and analysis.

The Development of
the Welfare State

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................4
TASK...............................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................8
Books and Journal..........................................................................................................8bhanu.p

INTRODUCTION
The labour party of United Kingdom is a centre-left political party which is a large party
having alliances with many social and democratic democrats and trade unions. This is the reason
that it works majorly in support of labours and their rights. Apart from labour workforce, like
other political parties they also lay emphasis on other social and welfare relate issues. The labour
party was formed in 1922 under the leadership of Keir Starmer, since then it has been working
as either the governing and ruling party or as the official opposition party.
The labour party is a well known ruling party in British Era and to bring dynamism in the
country and to keep people satisfied and happy(Barr 2020). The British Labour Party
implemented Labour Law in 1979 among UK law and European convention. To maintain trust
and faith in eyes of general public it is required to work for their upliftment and betterment. For
this labour party has amended several policies from time to time, looking to the generating needs
and demands of individuals. For instance, Conservative Governments ruled from 1979 to 1997
implemented social policy and worked to bring reform in these policies with dynamism and
broke of promises Labour Governments was established and new policy approach was
implemented from 1997 to 2010. In the case study, comparison and scrutiny is done among the
two reforms.
TASK
The political parties of any and every geographical boundaries are mended to be
responsible for working towards the upliftment of conditions of the local people who elect them
and bring them in power. They limit and manage the expenditures which would be required in
meeting the expenses for accomplishing the expectations set by the governing body in mind of
voters(Benish and Levi-Faur 2020). The work in direction of welfare by improvising health,
educational facilities, infrastructure, medical facilities, safety and security, promoting cultures
and beliefs, enhancing standard of living, social and national security and much more that
contribute in raising standard of living. For this sake and in accordance welfare party of UK
which is at that time ruling that is Labour Party also focused on developing these amenities. As
every party tries to achieve the targets but due to some or the other reason it is sometimes
challenging to meet them and thus facing issues in smooth continuance.

The Labour Party focused on the promoting the rights and creating equal opportunities
for everyone. The conservative economic policy in past several years have shown an
extraordinary effect in upliftment of living standards and conditions of the economy. In 1979
when Margaret Thatcher and John Major was elected and came in power for ruling
circumstances for 18 years implemented Conservative Governments. In this new thoughts and
content were brought in market. The conservative policy focused on mainly four factors
addressing low rate of inflation, high rate of growth, low employment rate and a level of
balanced trade. The main focus of the policy at that time was removal and elimination of
increase in prices. Other of the factors were given less emphasis. During mid ruling time of the
party in 1993 emphasis was focused on growth of economy by diversifying its operations and the
same. With the efforts of ruling party and of the Major, only inflation came in control giving
partial accomplishment of the goals. After a period of time again the economy boosted its pace
and GDP hiked, specifically in Germany.
The conservative policy of social approach was mainly focused on traditional cultural
activities giving preference to nuclear families, encouraging growth but also promoting them to
mothers to stay at home, inspiring parents to build good relations with their children and follow
their paternal and maternal responsibility along with living and earning. The conservative
government following social policy approach was promoting civil and political rights due to
which they were able to function smoothly in initial but were a fail in end days. Efforts were also
laid on improving the critical conditions of younger aged group, women welfare and rights for
vulnerable class. The policy was seen as attached and linked as following hardcore equality and
this led to its decline and loss in faith and trust. A set of policies were generated, for instance
urban and regional policy, welfare policy, housing policy, labour policy and others. As the
policies made were not followed and sustained, thus resulting in non achievement of targets,
this made voters shifted their trust. Although the policy was working well but with the course of
time as changes were required and they were not implemented accordingly it led to decline in
productivity and efficiency of industrial and manufacturing units. Competition with rivals and
neighbouring countries was becoming very tough and thus industries were declining at a very
fast pace. Due to inefficiency in ruling, situations were getting worsened and the general public
were suffering. With decline in industrial growth, people became unemployed, income reduced,
basic amenities were lacked by individuals and situation of recession occurred. The British

economy has been performing and working well past years but as the time was modernising
conservative governments were lacking in accomplishing the needs and expectations due to their
rigid system and procedure of continuance. These led to increase in inequality, ethics, values and
living standards. The conservatives politicians of UK focuses in putting a limit on size and scope
of governing body in context to the rights of domestic people of state.
As change is a necessity for every and all things and with dynamism in economy and
developing markets new laws regarding labour and working workforce was required to be
constructed and followed. Working in this direction, New Labour period came into force from
late 90s to 2010 by British Labour Party working under the guidance of Tony Blair and Gordon
Brown. As faith of people in ruling party started deploying because of pause in growth and
dynamism and to retrieve belief in electorate and federal governance and to boost economy,
changing direction from traditional policies to developmental policies and effectively following
the promises made during elections(Jaelani IGAKR and Karjoko 2020). To sustain the healthy
relations between trade unions and state, and to work in direction of modernising work culture.
As labours are the main part of human resource that perform actual work and lead manufacturing
which aim in giving trade and revenue to organisation. The focus was aimed on reducing social
and economic gaps, while concentrating on modernising public services. The budget under the
policy was set for performing several assigned tasks, whereas expenditure was increased on
providing services. Services and facilities were focused to improve so that situation of public can
be enhanced and their health, education and living standards can be improvised. Better quality of
medical and educational facilities were propounded for which several medical and educational
institutions like schools, hospitals with developed and modern infrastructure was built up. The
New Labour policy was focused on creating a balance between society and human resource
rather than equality between the humans(Obinger 2020). This looks forward to diagnose and
continuing of changes in context to both of the policies so that a great level of development is
seen.
The conservative government approach was focused on reducing inflation and enhancing
trade, as well as New labour policy on the other hand along with all the focus points of previous
policy as well focused on raising standard of living of general public and letting them equipped
with modern technical know how. As compared to the new labour policy, conservative
government social approach was recognized as a welcome because it acted as a going away of

old labour because it was criticised and considered unpleasant as it was continuously breaking its
promises made at time of election. Whereas New labour policies developed and worked
according to the plans thus building faith in eyes of local public that governing body was
working in accordance as the promises prospected(Öktem 2020). Also the focal point under new
policy was set on making advanced and forward looking achievements which can attract voters
from geographical boundaries and retain them for a long course of time. In comparison old and
retarded beliefs were reshaped believing in achieving justice among work class through
collective performance. To keep on with continuity and work accurately with challenges and
issues faced, the old law was becoming less efficient in addressing dependence. The proof which
tells the fiscal deficit and decline in economic conditions of those previous years of ruling was
well versed in giving a reason that governance is required to be changed for better functioning of
country and economy(Schakel Burgoon and Hakhverdian 2020).
CONCLUSION
As alteration and modification is required in changing era, thus it becomes an important aspect
to mould its policies and strategies accordingly. When this modification and change is not met,
then decline is surely expected. Same can be concluded from the above case study as when
conservative governments were not able to meet need in accordance the labour party has to
change its governance and bring New Labour Law in implementation which worked well and is
a success.

REFRENCES
Books and Journal
Barr 2020. Economics of the welfare state. Oxford University Press, USA.
Benish and Levi-Faur 2020. The Reassertion of the Regulatory Welfare State: A Preface. The
ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 691(1) pp.7-16.
Jaelani IGAKR and Karjoko 2020. Development of Tourism Based on Geographic Indication
Towards To Welfare State. International Journal of Advanced Science and
Technology 29(3s) pp.1227-1234.
Obinger 2020. Conscription, the Military, and Welfare State Development. Historical Social
Research/Historische Sozialforschung 45(2 (172) pp.7-26.
Öktem 2020. The welfare state as universal social security: A global analysis. Social
Inclusion 8(1) pp.103-113.
Schakel Burgoon and Hakhverdian 2020. Real but unequal representation in welfare state
reform. Politics & Society 48(1) pp.131-163.