Abstract

There have been reductions in public expenditure previously, for example under the Labour Governments of the 1970s and the Conservative ones of the 1980s, which were also accompanied by colourful anti-state rhetoric. However, they pale in comparison with the present Con-Dem Coalition Government's proposals contained in the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). These cuts, if achieved, presage the largest sustained and deepest retranchment in pubic spending since the 1920s. Their scale and potential negative impact demands a concerted response from the social policy communit, one which extends beyond scientific analysis to open campaigning. This will not be to everryone's taste, after all social policy is a very broad, hybrid, multidisciplinary mix but, at the very least, there should be an informed national debate about our response to the present unprecedented attacks on the welfare state. Here we set out some ideas about the key points on which this debate might be focused and outline a possibe oppositional strategy for social policy.