Quintin Hogg (1907–2001)

One of three Penguin Specials (the others presenting Liberal and Labour points of view) published in the late 50s (though this particular volume is a "completely revised" edition of "The Case for Conservatism", first published in 1947). I've only flicked through it so far, but was struck by the claim (on p. 109) that the Conservatives were the architects of the Welfare State. This is apparently because most of the work towards it - the reporting of committees and publishing of white papers - was done under the wartime coalition which was "predominantly Conservative". Apart from sputtering over this bit of appropriation, I wonder to what degree later Conservative administrations - including the present one - would want to associate themselves with this achievement. My simple and possibly under-informed brain is appalled for the sake of both past and present.… (más)