I am old enough to have met William Beverage.

His name is now being cited as we all, but particularly Lib Dems, discuss issues of the welfare and of the state.

Beveridge’s report was part of a long and continuing concern for the welfare of those who do not have money for food and shelter.

He considered it the duty of the state to ensure that citizens had enough money to buy basic food and shelter, but no more and under tight controls: time limited and based on the willingness to find and start paid employment.

It was an advance on the the debtors prison and the workhouse and the start of a long process towards the Welfare State that we have today.

But this welfare state is creaking. It is very expensive, yet we have food banks for those who cannot afford to buy food for their families.

It is time for a serious rethink.

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