Paul Spicker @PSpicker
Paul is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. He mainly writes on poverty, benefits, social justice and social policy. spicker.uk @[email protected] Joined November 2012-
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"Countries that have cut back on certain types of #Benefits have nevertheless found themselves constrained to leave some forms of income support in place...It’s not an inevitable truth, but it’s something that can be charted and seen." @PSpicker @geomill transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/07/01/pod…
Listen to @geomill and @PSpicker talk about some of the historical roots, moral foundations, and practical workings of different #Welfare systems. #WelfareState transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/07/01/pod…
New in the ‘What Is It For?’ series, ‘What Is the Welfare State For?’ discusses the institutions and methods that characterise #WelfareStates around the world. @PSpicker ow.ly/zC2q50W4VN9
My new book has shipped: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-is-… . "A brilliant critical contribution and powerful overview about how we got here and what is at stake" (Camilo Perez-Bustillo) "Concise and superbly written" (Daniel Béland)
After 25 years and more than eight million views, I am closing down my educational website, 'An Introduction to Social Policy'. A legacy copy, and my blog, will still be available at observant-paulspicker.wordpress.com Other posts will be at @paulspicker.bsky.social
It doesn't seem to matter how many warnings are posted, some kids playing in the cemetery will try to bring dead ideas back to life. Zero-based budgeting implicitly favours 'core' (in-house) spending over 'peripheral'. Voluntary organisations beware.
It doesn't seem to matter how many warnings are posted, some kids playing in the cemetery will try to bring dead ideas back to life. Zero-based budgeting implicitly favours 'core' (in-house) spending over 'peripheral'. Voluntary organisations beware.
Hardly new, people. Richard Titmuss wrote about this 60 years ago and I've been on it for 20.
Hardly new, people. Richard Titmuss wrote about this 60 years ago and I've been on it for 20.
The OBR's new report obr.uk/frs/fiscal-ris… offers projections over 50 years, implying disastrous public finances. 50 years? This is what led the Times in 1894 to write that "in 50 years, every street in London will be buried under nine feet of manure.” blog.spicker.uk/hold-the-horse…
The 2 final candidates for the Conservative leadership must pay £150,000 to participate. This will prove they can attract donors - and that's just what wrong with it. The winning candidate will be beholden to donors - as intended. theguardian.com/politics/artic…
Best defence of Winter Fuel Payment.
Pensions aren't income-related. All pensions go to richer pensioners as well as poorer ones. The cut in Winter Fuel Payment is nothing more, and nothing less, than a cut in pensions. wp.me/p6x0MC-257
Labour first suggested dumping the Winter Fuel Payment in 2013, and they're back to that again. My comment from 2013: it's a mechanism to get money to people simply and directly. Governments should think twice before they throw away their best tools. blog.spicker.uk/the-winter-fue…
This may look like an easy win for the new government, but it's ill-advised. Bear this in mind: with every tweak, adjustment, condition and exclusion, the system becomes that little bit more complicated, more vulnerable to error and unfairness, and more difficult to manage.
This may look like an easy win for the new government, but it's ill-advised. Bear this in mind: with every tweak, adjustment, condition and exclusion, the system becomes that little bit more complicated, more vulnerable to error and unfairness, and more difficult to manage.
This site lets you read the first two chapters for free - the point of the welfare state, and the chapter on social security. Reading the whole book is even more depressing ... but worth it!
This site lets you read the first two chapters for free - the point of the welfare state, and the chapter on social security. Reading the whole book is even more depressing ... but worth it!
This is what our election should be addressing - and isn't.
This is what our election should be addressing - and isn't.
Under strain resolutionfoundation.org/publications/u… A helpful report, but DLA or PIP were never extra costs benefits and they don't depend on work. They were built on two elements (mobility and care) expressly chosen to cover long-term disadvantage in income. That's why they're 'sticky'.
This report mainly emphasises uprating and conditionality. But no less important, there's now no safety net: delay, debt recovery, deductions and lengthy sanctions have destroyed any idea of a minimum. This has played a major role in creating destitution.
This report mainly emphasises uprating and conditionality. But no less important, there's now no safety net: delay, debt recovery, deductions and lengthy sanctions have destroyed any idea of a minimum. This has played a major role in creating destitution.
More than 4 million children are living in poverty in the UK. Poverty puts children’s education, health and life chances on the line. We can lift one million children out of poverty:
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