Description
Book SynopsisThis landmark book charts the rollercoaster history of both rich and poor, and the mechanisms that link them. Stewart Lansley examines the ideological rifts that have driven society back to the divisions of the past and asks why rich and poor citizens are still judged by very different standards.
Trade Review“A resource that can help us make up our own minds about extremes of wealth and poverty, privilege and want, instead of being encouraged to ‘other’ welfare claimants and kid ourselves we share the interests of the profiteering one per cent. We should arm ourselves with it in all our anti-poverty struggles.” Cost of Living
“The key takeaway of this excellent history is that poverty cannot be fought effectively, unless we also tackle the social and economic inequality that creates it.” Labour Hub
“Crucially, the book extends our understanding of inequality by showing the clear, dependent relationship, between poverty and wealth creation. The book forces readers to confront, not just the reliance of the rich on the poor to make money, but also the long-standing and stubborn nature of this relationship in Britain”. Brave New Europe ”A vivid description of the fall and rise of poverty and inequality... impressive survey and analysis of 200 years of inequality." Journal of Social Policy “Important....passionate and thoroughly researched.” Political Quarterly
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Knighthoods for the rich, penalties for the poor Part 1: 1800-1939 1. Hierarchical discipline 2. Britain’s gilded age 3. Public penury and private ostentation 4. A roller-coaster ride Part 2: 1940-59 5. The future belongs to us 6. Britain’s ‘New Deal' 7. Brave new world 8. A shallow consensus Part 3: 1960-79 9. The rediscovery of poverty 10. Poorer under Labour 11. Consolidation or advance? 12. Peak equality Part 4: 1980-96 13. Don’t mention the 'p' word 14. Zapping Labour 15. The dark shadow of the Poor Law 16. The great widening 17. Money worship Part 5: 1997-2010 18. The elephant in the room 19. Still born to rule 20. I'm not Mother Teresa 21. The house of cards 22. The good, the bad and the ugly Part 6: 2011-20 23. Divide and rule: playing politics with poverty 24. A leaner state 25. Burning injustice 26. Growing rich in their sleep 27. The high-inequality, high-poverty cycle Afterword: COVID-19 and 'the polo season'
