25 - The Labour Government, Social Policy, and the Supplementary Benefits Commission

Summary

Introduction

When Labour returned to power in 1964, hopes were high for welfare reform. These were increased when, in 1966, Labour was re-elected with an improved majority. But the economy proved troublesome, with, for example, unemployment on the rise. The circumstances for radical social policy innovation were not, therefore, necessarily favourable. However, many advocates of reform, including some close to Titmuss, became increasingly frustrated with the government. This resulted in, notably, the creation of the Child Poverty Action Group in 1965, a body which was to become a thorn in the government's side and, increasingly, critical of Titmuss. This chapter discusses Titmuss’s response to this situation, how he continued to refine his ‘philosophy’ of welfare, and how all this affected his relationship with his colleagues. For example, on the issue of welfare ‘rights’ he was to engage in a ‘fierce’ debate with David Donnison. More formally, Titmuss became a member of the Supplementary Benefits Commission, retaining this position until his death.

The poverty lobby

In autumn 1966, Crossman gave the last in a series of Fabian Society lectures. Among the earlier speakers had been Abel-Smith and Townsend who, he recorded, had launched ‘a tremendous attack on the Government for its failure to abolish poverty’. He had delivered a ‘really rambunctious reply’ to a packed audience. Pointing out the difficulties the administration faced, Crossman questioned how, given it had only been in office for two years, more could have been done, especially in difficult economic circumstances. Titmuss, Abel-Smith, and Townsend had been sitting immediately in front of him. The audience had been strongly supportive of them, and ‘obviously agreed with their accusation that the Government was losing its sense of direction and betraying its principles’. Nonetheless, his robust response ‘may have done a power of good’, as many Fabian Society members had been ‘deeply disheartened’ by the attack by ‘our own socialist professors and the enormous press coverage it got’. Crossman's speech was published as a Fabian Tract. This opened with his stated intention of addressing Abel-Smith and Townsend's arguments. Crossman acknowledged that his understanding of poverty largely derived from working, in the mid-1950s, with Titmuss and his two colleagues. But there was clearly a gap between ‘the socialist academic and the practical politician’.