Generally remembered as a notorious diarist rather than a serious political figure, Richard Crossman’s imposing presence in Harold Wilson’s Cabinet during the 1964-1970 Labour governments proved, not least to himself, a disappointment. However, in this new reassessment, Stephen Thornton rescues Crossman’s political achievements from obscurity. From 1955 to the end of his life in 1974, Crossman was committed to a radical scheme that promised to break Britain free from the existing Beveridge model of welfare provision and transform the social security regime in the UK. Although the scheme as Crossman envisaged it was not directly implemented, his actions did prompt highly significant modifications to both Labour and, more surprisingly, Conservative social security policy. Here Crossman’s reputation as a towering figure of the patrician Left is rehabilitated as Thornton argues that in the era of New Labour, the lessons Crossman learned from his project of welfare reform are more valuable and relevant than ever.
Author(s): Stephen Thornton
Edition: 1
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 225
Contents......Page 8
Acknowledgements......Page 10
Introduction......Page 12
Guide to the book......Page 15
Crossman: A sketch......Page 18
Factors in Social Policy......Page 33
Ideas......Page 36
Individuals......Page 39
Circumstances......Page 44
Interests......Page 47
Summary......Page 48
2. Challenging Beveridge......Page 50
The Beveridge model of national insurance......Page 51
Suggestions for reform......Page 56
Crossman and 'the end of Beveridge'......Page 61
The 1955 Labour Party Conference......Page 65
3. The Cunning Plan......Page 68
The birth of 'half-pay on Retirement'......Page 70
The role of the private sector......Page 77
Owning the country......Page 83
'Stealing Crossman's clothes'......Page 87
Assessment of Crossman's Role......Page 93
4. The Rival......Page 104
The Crossman's rival......Page 106
Work to be done......Page 109
Expanding earnings-relation......Page 111
The income guarantee......Page 114
Summary......Page 119
5. Into the Storm......Page 120
Crossman's temporary exile......Page 121
Crisis management......Page 122
Deeper problems......Page 126
The garbage can......Page 130
Summary......Page 135
6. A Story Rich in Lessons......Page 137
Centre-stage, but too late......Page 138
National superannuation and social Insurance......Page 141
Earnings-relation for all......Page 143
Lowering the 'ceiling'......Page 151
Towards public-private partnership......Page 154
No 'bold investment' after all......Page 165
Summary......Page 171
Conclusion: Crossman's legacy......Page 180
Notes......Page 184
Bibliography......Page 207
Index......Page 213
