Exploring Political Change

Abstract

Since 1975 the reform agenda in British politics has been dominated by the politics of market liberalism. Policy has been recast in as close a neoliberal guise as has proved politically possible and/or administratively practicable. As a result, government is no longer expected to radically reform economic relations. Limited moves toward egalitarianism have been abandoned and moderate attempts to redistribute income and wealth (in cash or in kind) are no longer considered to be acceptable objectives. Both Labour and the Conservatives rule out high rates of progressive taxation and support policy instruments such as marketisation, deregulation, neo-classical economics, lower borrowing and (when possible) less public spending, reform of the welfare state to encourage individual self-reliance and reduce dependency, and the introduction of new public management techniques. The privatisation of state-owned industries and utilities demonstrates the withdrawal of the state from direct control over a great deal of economic activity.