This book has drawn on a variety of evidence, including interviews with 76 MPs and 10 peers, to examine the beliefs, roles and activities of MPs, and to some extent peers, in relation to welfare policy since 1997. The empirical research was undertaken largely during the second Blair term, a period that saw considerable change in many areas of welfare policy. It is also a period in which many commentators suggested that there was a significant increase in the power of the executive, and perhaps in particular the Prime Minister, compared with that of the House of Commons (for example, Riddell, 2000). In addition, however, this period also saw other significant changes within parliament, including reform of the House of Lords, and to the governance of social policy outside parliament, for example the creation of the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales, which has led to new forums for the making of social policy within the devolved administrations.

In addition, this book has been able to draw on previous research, also drawing on interviews with a significant number of MPs, undertaken at a similar stage of the second Thatcher administration (1986-87), a period during which there were also radical shifts in welfare policy. This enables comparison to be made across a variety of topics including MPs’ beliefs and their approaches to influencing government policy.

The New Labour governments have made significant changes to social policy, in some areas building on changes introduced by the preceding Conservative governments, and in some areas varying considerably. Some of the debate about the nature of New Labour's policies has been focused around the idea of a ‘Third Way’ (for example, Giddens, 2000). At the same time, there have inevitably been changes in the social policies of the other political parties, with the Conservatives in particular attempting to respond not only to the challenge of New Labour but also the legacy of Thatcherism. However, in recent years social issues have become more of a focus for the Conservative Party, and following David Cameron's election as leader, the announcement of a number of significant policy shifts have brought the Conservatives closer to Labour's position in many areas, such as a commitment to ending child poverty and to maintaining an NHS free at the point of delivery.