New labour and the third way in the British welfare state: A new and distinctive approach?

Abstract

The Labour government elected in May 1997 has seen the reform of the welfare state to be one of its major tasks. Its big idea to achieve this is the third way, which is said to be a new and distinctive approach that differs from both the old left and the new right. It is argued that the third way is best summarized by a new acronym-PAP-pragmatism and populism. It appears to be neither distinctive nor new, leaning to the right rather than the centre or centre-left, and having some roots in the New Poor Law and the mixed economy of welfare of Beveridge.