Explain How Has The Government Changed Since The Second World War

How has the role of the Government changed since the Second World War?
Immediately after the Second World War, the British Government fully implemented the Beveridge report to create the Welfare State that we are familiar with today. This was necessary to ensure the country as a whole recovered successfully from a devastating conflict in Europe. 1945 saw the introduction of family allowances and 1946 brought an expansion of National Insurance and then the National Health Service. Employment was brought back to a desired level and the war managed economy slowly ended. These changes were the beginning of the welfare state known today and the start of the democratic socialist style of government that lasted up until the late 70s. Essential public services and industries, such as utilities and transport, were also
In terms of the Economy, the Keynsian demand model that had been used up until now had failed and in danger of recession Thatcher chose to raise interest levels to reduce money supply, and therefore suppress inflation. VAT was raised significantly which hit the manufacturing industries hard, causing rising unemployment. This governmental decision was very much a further step away from a state managed economy, and seen as an attempt at emphasising free markets, with a reduced role for the state. Public service provision was rolled back substantially and previously nationalised industries, the most notable of which being British Telecom, were privatised. This was another step for the Government away from a complete welfare state, with private industry and commerce being relied on to provide many of the public services that had been Government run since the end of the war. Contracting and Tendering for services became the Governments main role in service provision instead of running them as had happened