NEW LABOUR'S POLICY

New Labour's policy developments under the coalition government (child poverty)



New Labour's policy developments under the coalition government (child poverty)

Introduction

The idea for this paper came from the 2009 conference held by the Centre for Research in Social Policy - an applied social policy research centre - on the theme of inequality, a subject fundamental to social policy but one notably understated in New Labour's social policy agenda. The paper compares policy in relationship to economic inequality and poverty, the latter being the primary focus of New Labour's policy agenda. This discussion is set in the context of a growing sense of impasse in current social policy.

Despite unprecedented political motivation, progress has stalled in reducing child poverty and improving economic inequality. As recession unfolds in the UK, some commentators have suggested that the progress made in the last decade is "as good as it gets" for the foreseeable future (Hills et al. 2009, p98). The outcome and value of comparing applied policy in relation to poverty and economic inequality are that it highlights the narrowness of the Government's strategy to break the impasse in progress, and a dependence on education as being the clinching factor, underpinned by a questionable rationale about the future globalised labour market.

Comparing applied social policy approaches to poverty and economic inequality also highlights a dependence on a "bottom up", "individualistic" approach - that is, a focus on helping individuals and families to improve their circumstances themselves, either through employment or education. This is clearly reflected in the Government's emphasis on personal responsibility to work, "realising potential" and "unleashing aspiration". Providing people with skills and resources are of course essential. However, without further critical consideration of the social and economic environment (e.g. the nature and conditions of the labour market) which people then encounter, disadvantage and inequality are viewed narrowly as the consequence of individual action.

Discussion

The levels of child poverty in this country are a detriment to our society; the potential of so many held back simply by where they are born and raised may be the single biggest threat we face. It is an uncomfortable truth that in the 21st century and in one of the richest countries of the world there are currently 2.6 million (19.7 per cent) children who are being raised in relative poverty, of whom 2.2 million (17 per cent) are in absolute poverty. In October 2007, David Cameron gave a speech at Chance UK, North London, in which he committed to making British poverty history. This built on an earlier promise to achieve the aim set by Tony Blair's government in 1999 to eradicate child poverty by 2020.

The Liberal Democrats in September 2007 also made a commitment to end child poverty and both of the future coalition partners went on to support the Child Poverty Act 2010 and in their Coalition's programme for government stated: 'We will maintain the goal of ending child poverty by 2020'. Yet, in government as the Coalition, their attempts to combat child poverty are of ...