Going places on welfare

It is a red letter day for welfare reform. James Purnell’s Green Paper, leaked today, is a clear, honest and robust approach to the scandal of Britain’s 5.1m on benefits. I say in my political column in this week’s magazine that it is so close to Chris Grayling’s report (mainly because David Freud essentially wrote both parties’ policies) that the Tories should accept it and wish Purnell well. This is precisely what Chris Grayling has done today, praising Purnell’s bravery and pledging to support him. This is a breakthrough.
 
Bipartisan agreement is the condition for welfare reform. As I say in the column, this was true in Wisconsin in the 1980s and on the Federal level in the US with the Gingrich-Clinton co-operation. Purnell will be happy the Tories agree – it means his Green Paper will be enacted, no matter what happens at the next election. And Purnell is the type of person who would think “good – this means it will be enacted” not (as Brown would) “damn, I can’t use this to screw the Tories.” As Reagan said, there is no limit to what you can achieve in politics if you don’t care who gets the credit. Perhaps they can both agree to credit Freud, who is becoming a 21st century answer to Beveridge.
 
I have a book at home about the history of Wisconsin called “Government works” by Larry Mead. It argues that government can change welfare, if it focuses on enabling and works intelligently. Today is a rare moment when our political system seems to work. It’s a brief chance to be optimistic about what Westminster can achieve.
 
There are several holes one can pick in today’s leak, and much fun can be had looking at the bits in brackets or “subject to HMT approval” (see p17). And of course, they are just at the start – attempting this task six years too late, etc. But such niggles are dwarfed by the quality of Purnell’s work, and the maturity of the Tory response.
 
PS – And a message to CoffeeHouser JR, who knows his Onions on welfare reform: email me your verdict when you’ve had a chance to read it and we’ll put it up as a post.