A Review of the British Welfare History, 1948-2013, after the Cheerful Gatherings Celebrating Margaret Thatcher's Death

Abstract

The British welfare state was mainly established after the end of W.W.II. Its principles were based on a report written by Sir William Beveridge who intended to deal with five social evils. A new feature that the state provided was free medical care for all, which was carried out according to the National Health Service Act of 1946. Apart from rendering welfare benefits during unemployment, sickness, widowhood and retirement, the government also granted benefits in housing, education, child raising, etc.

From the beginning of the 1970s the British economy was weaker when compared with other European countries, which was mainly due to her outmoded industries. The number of unemployed people reached one million. During this decade, a world oil crises took place, and the number of welfare benefits claimants increased. Apart from fraudulent cases, quite a large number of people were satisfied with being on the dole. Therefore, the Thatcher government began to privatise industries and curtail welfare benefits to decrease public spending and encourage people to depend less on the state. Thus, many people did not have good memories of her.

Nevertheless, succeeding prime ministers, whether from the Conservative or the Labour Party, intended to cut certain benefit, encourage the unemployed to work, and persuade the public to have additional personal insurance in case of unemployment, sickness, retirement or death. It can be concluded that the welfare of the 2010s is different from that which began at the end of the 1940s because its definition and bounderies have never been fixed, but varied according to the circumstances. Whenever the government cuts or curtails some benefits, a certain number of people protest, and this can lead to violent riots like the ones that took place in London in 2011.

Due to her welfare policies, the image of Margaret Thatcher, a former Prime Minister, is still vivid in the minds of people who lost benefits. As a consequence, news of celebrations over her death was made known to the world in April 2013.