Clear Blue Water?

Robert M Page is Reader in Democratic Socialism and Social Policy at the University of Birmingham. He has written extensively on the post-war British welfare state.

• Conservativism, the 'modern' Conservative Party and the welfare stateFrom war to peace: the Conservatives adn the welfare state in the 1940sTowards a One Nation Conservative welfare state? The Conservatives and the welfare state, 1950-64The Heath 'interregnum': modern technocratic Conservativism and the welfare state, 1965-74The Conservative (counter-) revolution: neo-liberal Conservatism and the welfare state, 1974-97Progressive neo-liberal Conservatism and the welfare state, 2005 - 2015Epilogue: The Conservative Party and the welfare state: clear blue water?

"Page has written an important book which combines the history of British Conservative ideas on the welfare state with critical policy analysis. An invaluable source for scholars and students alike." Matt Beech, University of Hull "Fluently written and with credible arguments embracing historical, political and ideological perspectives." Political Studies Review "A thorough and detailed survey that will be of considerable benefit to anyone trying to understand the background to the present government's social policy agenda." Citizen's Income "Page helps foster a deeper understanding of the issues at stake and succeeds in dispelling some widely-held myths about Conservative policy in this area." Cercles Reviews "A comprehensive, informative and accessible account of the Conservative Party's relationship with the welfare state in the period from Churchill to Cameron." Hugh Bochel, University of Lincoln "An excellent book tracing the underlying political ideology and strategy of contemporary Conservatism towards the welfare state and placing it in a broader historical context. I recommend this book to academics, students and policymakers alike." Kevin Hickson, University of Liverpool "[Page} has produced a valuable synthesis that should be on the shelf (or the library shelf) of anyone interested in the Tories, in social policy, and in post-war political history" Twentieth Century British History