Permanent revolution: the case of Britain's welfare-to-work regime

A new welfare-to-work regime is emerging in Britain, one that expects most working-age benefit claimants to be work-focused. Jobcentre Plus delivers the policy, using a range of welfare-to-work tools that reflect the complex underlying causes of unemployment. Many date back some years, but developments such as the introduction of a minimum wage, the New Deals and tax credits, mark a new departure. The successful delivery of this raft of programmes and policy interventions requires considerable organisational change. This article considers whether or not the government is on the right track