The National Insurance Bill holds out the promise that the day is not far off when Want will be banished from our land. “There are some,” said Sir William Beveridge in his famous report over three years ago, “to whom pursuit of security appears to be a wrong aim.” The people and the government of Britain have rejected that view. Freedom from the fear of destitution is not inconsistent with initiative, adventure, personal responsibility.
On the contrary, a precondition for the free unfolding and balanced growth of man’s creative abilities is that he should not be scourged and driven by fear of economic forces entirely outside his control.
Fellowship with the unfortunate is the hallmark of a decent society.
Good men in all ages have pleaded for it; prophets and philosophers throughout the centuries have recognised it as the basis of ethics and the essential foundation of social harmony and peace.
Both morality and expediency support it. Here, at last, is one Utopia to become reality.
Key quote
“Without coal we cannot even begin our economic revival; we cannot even get a 5% increase in exports, get through our housing programme, or have new health services and social security.” Noel Newsome, of the Ministry of Fuel, on the urgent need to recruit 100,000 miners
Talking point
Some commentators have suggested that Mr Churchill’s holiday in America should be regarded as the first stage of a journey which will lead him away from active politics towards the role of elder statesman. His friends deny this: they are confident he will return invigorated and eager for the fray.
“Tories plan policy of attack - battle over nationalisation” - Observer news story
