Poverty And Inequality In New Labour

In this essay I will be discussing how social policy has failed to eradicate poverty and inequality in light of the implemented policies of New Labour and the current coalition Government of the Conservative party and Liberal Democrats. I will be exploring ideological failure and success and how I think we can solve problems related to poverty and inequality, if at all. The impact of the inequality (particularly health inequality) will be analysed as well as the state of the welfare, pensions and child maintenance policies which have been the subject of much public scrutiny since the New Labour years and how these policies have affected poverty and inequality. The essay will also put ideological tribalism, demographic gerrymandering and progressive

When Labour took power, poverty rates in the UK were the highest they had been since World War 2 (Stewart, K. ‘(2005). New Labour turns the tide of poverty, but inequality still runs deep. Available: http://bit.ly/1tSiqo9) and one of New Labours flagship pledges in the 1997 General election was to decrease poverty, particularly for pensioners and families with children. The figures of 2.5 million down from 3.4 million children living in poverty shows New Labour made significant progress in reducing child poverty despite failing to meet their aim of halving child poverty (Pearce, N. (2012). The struggle against child poverty: an analysis of Labour's legacy. Available: http://bit.ly/1G4omO5). In regards to health inequalities, New Labour were successful, they apportioned NHS resources between areas to become to better meet the needs of communities which were seen as impoverished in the past. The key issue identified was the rate at which advantaged areas were making progress health-wise in contrast to notoriously deprived areas, such as Merthyr Tydfil and Jaywick Sands. Pledges were brought about under an independent inquiry in 2001, these included raising raise life expectancy in deprived areas at a quicker rate than more privileged areas, decreasing infant mortality gap across social classes and to

Controversial reforms such as the Bedroom tax (under-occupancy tax) and phasing out of Disability Living Allowance and replacement with Personal Independence Payment were the main part of the act with a comprehensive benefit cap which covers housing benefit, income support, jobseekers allowance, employment and support allowance, child benefit, child tax credit, guardians allowance, carers allowance, DWP maternity benefits and widows benefits and severe disablement allowance (British government. (2012). Welfare Reform Act 2012. Available: http://bit.ly/1pcLbu0). Major angst rippled throughout the country amidst the Welfare Reform act; with rising cost of living and cuts to welfare making it more difficult than ever for Britons to survive. The welfare Reform act has been subjected to much fury and protest as it hits the working class hard when the middle to upper classes remain untouched and unscathed by the new policies; for example, economist Howard Read has forecasted a 12% average decrease of income for poor families. These acts have sped-up income inequality to an extent not seen since the 1980s and is expected to soar twice as fast by than it did in the