About the Blog

Welcome to this blog which hopes to add some optimism to the subject of social policy through suggesting new policy directions beyond the neoliberal consensus of the past three decades. Whilst I focus particularly on welfare policy and specifically issues related to sickness benefits, I also have an interest in policy areas such as health, social care and education.

On a broader level, I like to explore the relationship between philosophy, theology and public policy. I also studied history at an undergraduate level and so am keen to consider the development of social and economic policies from an historical perspective.

I come from a humanist standpoint, believing that social conditions should be created so that people are given the chance to flourish in life. While my chosen career path is research, I continue to appreciate the value of working with people, not wishing to become a paternalist or aloof academic. I have done volunteer work in Cambodia and have worked for a brief while in the UK as a support worker with ex-homeless people and people with severe mental health problems. I plan to continue this from September through working in a welfare office when I move to Canterbury to start my PhD.

I also post on the blog inequalities which is co-edited by my future doctoral supervisor Ben Baumberg.