Brexit and the Conservative Party’s social policies

Corbett, Steven (2023) Brexit and the Conservative Party’s social policies. In: The Conservative Party and Social Policy. Policy Press, Bristol. (Accepted for Publication)

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Abstract

The Conservative Party has attempted to manage the internal contradictions between its neoliberal and libertarian authoritarian wings through the process of exiting the European Union (EU). This has involved four changes of Prime Minister, two elections, prolonged negotiations with the EU, and a deepening of welfare chauvinism in relation to social policies. This chapter examines the right-wing drivers of the EU referendum, the vote itself, and the post-Brexit implications for social policy. Social rights, immigration and work policies, healthcare, and the tensions between the devolved governments of the UK during the Brexit process are assessed. While the welfare chauvinist shift has attempted to hold together the Conservative party’s coalition of factions, the continuing problems of poverty, insecurity, and weak economic competitiveness indicate further fragmentation and divergence in post-EU UK social policies.

Item Type:	Book Section
Keywords:	Brexit, libertarian authoritarianism, neoliberalism, populist nationalism, welfare chauvinism
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Education and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Steven Corbett
Date Deposited:	19 Jun 2023 09:05
Last Modified:	19 Jun 2023 09:05
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/3958

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