ABSTRACT
The Labour government of 1945—51 implemented the Beveridge proposals with some significant amendments in a series of Acts passed after 1945. An alternative way of evaluating Labour’s performance is to examine the record in relation to objectives in the social security field. Labour had become sensitive to the question of poverty during the 1950s, before the academic rediscovery of poverty took place. Labour made ambitious and radical policies in opposition but had feet of clay when it came to their implementation in government. The worst aspect of Labour’s social security record was family allowances, despite the fact that in 1968 Labour increased them by 75p for the second child. The only substantial beneficiaries from Labour’s social security plans were the unemployed and the sick, who received earnings related benefits after 1966. Labour fought the election of February 1974 with several specific policy commitments on social security.
