Government Affairs Blog

The centre of politics

Michael Lind wrote a fascinating article in the Financial Times this week titled 'The centre-ground's shift to the left' .

Lind, a senior Fellow of the New America Foundation, argues that the centre-ground shifts over time and is now returning to what he describes as welfare liberalism.

As anyone who follows British politics will know the centre-ground is hallowed turf that everyone politician wants to be seen to occupy.

If Lind is correct in his analysis then the market approach to welfarism, began under the Thatcher administration and continued right through to the current Labour Government of Gordon Brown will need some sort of re-positioning, if not in actually policy then at least in presentation.

Link to article: The centre-ground's shift to the left

Simon Goldie is a member of the CIPR GAG executive and Head of Communications at The Chartered Institute of Taxation - http://www.tax.org.uk