April 27, 2018 / C H Thompson

State welfare since 1979

New Right philosophy heavily influenced Conservative governments from 1979 to 1997 by developing the principles of ‘self-help’
Self-help is the based upon the principle of the ‘deserving and undeserving poor’
Welfare (prior to 1979 welfare was known as social security) payments were targeted on those groups unable to help themselves – disabled, sick and elderly
Those who didn’t fall into the above category were expected to support themselves
Welfare was a ‘hand-up not a hand-out’

Meta