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centre for social justice

October 15, 2018

The origins of Universal Credit

As Universal Credit (finally) approaches the top of the political agenda, now seems a good time to reflect on how it was devised.
June 3, 2014

Iain Duncan Smith: a reputation beyond accountability?

In politics it is more constructive to focus on policies and ideas than on individuals, says Bernadette Meaden. She suggests, however, that a politician may become so wedded to a policy that their personal reputation and the credibility of the policy become inextricably linked. She argues that this is now the case with Iain Duncan Smith.
December 19, 2012

Cruddas is right on local democracy, wrong on Mill and Aristotle

At the end of a recent speech to the Centre for Social Justice, John Cruddas MP made a rightful appeal for extended local democracy, says political theologian Graeme Smith. But he got there by caricaturing John Stuart Mill, mystifying Aristotle and elevating a confused communitarianism over the proper role of a democratic state in embedding social justice. This warmed-over Blue Labourism needs some serious questioning in terms of its historical understanding and political roots, he suggests.
January 30, 2012

Time for a name change at the Centre for Social Justice?

Is the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) correctly named? If social justice means all people or all sections of society being treated fairly and equally, then it’s time for a rebrand.
January 30, 2012

An open letter to Iain Duncan Smith

Dear Iain

You once described yourself as “the quiet man”. It didn't quite work for you at the time, which is a pity, because quietness implies a capacity for reflection, listening and, in the words of our Quaker 'Advices and Queries', for finding space to “consider it possible you may be mistaken”. These are not qualities which are much in evidence among our noisier politicians.