Social security policy under New Labour: an analysis

In 1997, Labour made few specific proposals on social security reform. But after five years of changes, we can see clear trends in policy. The Labour Government describes its approach as "progressive universalism", which seems to mean that it favours benefits related to financial or other needs over insurance benefits. Although it remains committed to individual taxation and individual access to the remaining insurance benefits, it wants to assess additional means-tested support on the combined income of couples. But, in the new "credits", it hopes to change the form of means-testing for pensioners, families with children and low-income workers. This conference explored the implications of trends in the Labour Government's reforms to social security.