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Updated:Apr 23, 2026
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British welfare state and the postwar consensus (1945–1979)

British welfare state and the postwar consensus (1945–1979)

  1. Beveridge Report sets welfare-state blueprint

    Labels: William Beveridge, Beveridge Report

  2. Labour wins 1945 election and begins reforms

    Labels: Clement Attlee, Labour Government

  3. Bank of England nationalised under public control

    Labels: Bank of

  4. National Insurance Act creates comprehensive benefits

    Labels: National Insurance, Social Insurance

  5. Family allowances start as universal child support

    Labels: Family Allowances, Child Benefit

  8. NHS launches as free-at-point-of-use service

    Labels: National Health, NHS Launch

  9. National Assistance Act ends Poor Law system

    Labels: National Assistance, Poor Law

  10. NHS introduces dentures and spectacles charges

    Labels: NHS Charges, 1951 Charges

  11. Guillebaud Report defends NHS and urges investment

    Labels: Guillebaud Report, NHS Committee

  12. Hospital Plan launches major NHS building programme

    Labels: A Hospital, NHS Building

  13. Ministry of Social Security created and benefits reorganised

    Labels: Ministry of, Supplementary Benefits

  14. IMF crisis brings spending cuts and policy strain

    Labels: IMF Loan, UK IMF

  15. Winter of Discontent undermines confidence in consensus

    Labels: Winter of, Public Sector

  16. Thatcher elected, signaling end of postwar consensus era

    Labels: Margaret Thatcher, 1979 Election