THE welfare state was brought in by a Labour Party after the Second World War, on the principle that it would protect citizens from "cradle to grave".
Some 80 years after Labour's 1945 electoral victory on a platform of "great national programmes of education, health and social services", the UK's welfare state is in bad shape.
We have been planning this new series for several months. It is purely coincidence that we are publishing it in a week where Labour MPs will vote to strip benefits from disabled people after next year.
Fourteen years of Tory austerity brought the welfare state to its knees, leaving a legacy of benefit sanctions and a record number of food banks. Enter stage left; a Labour Government which would sicken its predecessors of 1945, committed to removing even more state support from the most vulnerable in society.
We want to show that Scotland could do more without being tied to the sinking ship of the UK.
Our investigation from Monday to Sunday will show how Westminster governments systematically sought to remove the protections of the welfare state, while Scotland tried to chart its own path and help those in need.
It'll feature expert commentary, deep dives into the data, livestream Q&As with key figures, personal essays reflecting on how the UK Government treats people who are unemployed and living with disabilities, and much more.
As we mark this key anniversary of Labour coming to power with promises of a fairer, more secure future for UK citizens, it's time to reflect on what went wrong.
We hope you'll find the series informative and, hopefully, infuriating.
Read online or in print from Monday to Friday. Take advantage of a subscription from just £1 to get access to the full investigation.
