New Labour and the Third Way in the British National Health Service

Abstract

The British Labour Party claims that its policies are based on a "third way," new and distinct from both the old left and the new right. This article critically examines this claim with respect to health policy. After examining the Conservative legacy in the National Health Service and the evolution of Labour's health policy, the author introduces the concept of the "third way" and discusses the extent to which Labour's health policy can be seen in these terms, using the themes of spending, competition, accountability, and public health. There are many differences between the health policies of New and Old Labour, and some differences between those of New Labour and the Conservatives. Indeed, to a large extent Labour's health policy is built on the legacy of the Conservatives and is characterized by evolution. It is difficult to find any "big idea" or coherent philosophy behind the third way. Rather than being a new and distinctive approach rejecting both the old left and the new right, it seems to be a pragmatic pick and mix, attempting to combine the best from the market approach of the Conservatives and the hierarchical approach of Old Labour.

Accountability, Rhetoric, and Political Interests: Twists and Turns of NHS Performance Measurements

“…The third way was intended to portray the image of a ‘New’ Labour party with a pragmatic approach towards social democracy (Giddens, ). The notion of the third way was:

a pragmatic pick and mix, attempting to combine the best from the market approach of the Conservatives and the hierarchies approach of Old Labour (Powell, , p. 353).

…”

“…a pragmatic pick and mix, attempting to combine the best from the market approach of the Conservatives and the hierarchies approach of Old Labour (Powell, , p. 353).…”

Health Action Zones: the ‘third way’ of a new area-based policy?

“…Partnership and collaboration are key themes of New Labour’s third way (Hudson 1999, Painter 1999, Powell 1999a,b). Clarence & Painter (1998) view the action zones as part of New Labour’s ‘collaborative discourse’.…”

“…‘Different elements will have more or less relevance and emphasis in different HAZs’ (NHS Executive 1998). In this sense it may well be that the NHS will increasingly become a series of diverse local health services rather than one national service; a postmodern service rather than one which is modern (and dependable) (Moon & Brown 1998, Powell 1999a). As Higgins (1998) points out, this ‘hands off’‘strategy of greater local autonomy is risky politically for a government committed to “equality” ’.…”

“…As Higgins (1998) points out, this ‘hands off’‘strategy of greater local autonomy is risky politically for a government committed to “equality” ’. Commentators have remarked that New Labour displays an uneasy blend of central control and devolution (Clarence & Painter 1998, Powell 1999a,b).…”