The Evolution of the British Welfare State - Essay Example

It is often said that the Great Statesman, who rescued a warn-torn Britain in the First World War, Winston Churchill lay the very foundations of the British welfare state. Even as back as 1909 he had laid the groundwork for his "radical reforms," for the labor workforce aimed at making working conditions pleasant and to improve labor relations with the employer.The modern-day health insurance system is indeed a brainchild of Churchill and in 1946 despite his conservative roots he still gave support for Clement Atlee's introduction of near-full socialism in Britain.

The emerging labor party, in particular, took it upon itself towards a commitment to reform and social justice, which was later dubbed rhetorically as the British brand of socialism.And thus began a period collective welfare which sought to rid the society of the "scramble for private gain" which tainted the society's ideals and conscience in the name of "Capitalism".According to contemporaries like George Bernard Shaw who called this an "installment of Socialism" rather than a revolution.Britain has had much to learn from its contemporaries in this regard.

Whereas the Soviet Union seemed a complete package of central planning a concept new to the West, the British Government took this influence to enlarge its role in the Economic sector.This was the inception of a "Welfare state" which began in the mid-thirties as the Government became active in its industrial ventures.The saving of the national economy was a cause shared by all the affectees of the war.The traditional 19th-century liberalism was in shambles now and the concept self-interest being a social good was rejected as plain selfish and Unjust.

One of the key leaders of this movement Prime Minister Attlee once remarked that the capitalism and self-interest was "a pathetic faith resting on no foundation of experience."The new Britain as envisaged by its labourite perceivers would be a promised land where past mistakes would never be repeated and the government would take responsibility for its people.The Beveridge Report was prepared by a government-appointed commission during World War II under William Beveridge, a former economist, and bureaucrat.

The aim of this report was to slay the "five giants" of Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor, and Idleness.The report generated worldwide controversy particularly in the Soviet and German circles, as Britain braced its role as a welfare state.The Beveridge report played a pivotal role in the setting up of free medical care(the modern day NHS), promoted the idea of pensions and welfare education and housing and unemployment benefits