By the mid-1970s, the UK’s increasing economic difficulties and the failure of successive governments to grow and develop the welfare state meant that its principles were weakened and its practice diluted. Thus by the time Mrs Thatcher came to power, the welfare state that existed was no longer the welfare state that had been envisaged or implemented after the war. This may have made Mrs Thatcher’s task easier, harnessing populist feelings of dissatisfaction with the welfare state, but her goal was undoubtedly to destroy it, whatever its specifics.

The mid-1970s, however, could equally have been a time for welfare state renewal – as happened in some other European countries – seeking to advance it in line with emerging political and cultural ideas, changed demographic and cultural pressures, social and other developments that had taken place since its inception. While this largely did not happen in the UK, there were strong radical forces seeking to make such progressive change. These were often forces operating internationally. This time, unlike the period post-war, there were also strong progressive interests in both diversity and participation – the key components lacking in the post-war welfare state.