Sickness insurance and welfare reform in England and Wales, 1870-1914

During the last two decades, historians and social scientists have paid increasing attention to the history of friendly societies and other forms of mutual support. In Britain, authors such as Eric Hopkins, David Neave, Martin Gorsky, Simon Cordery and Daniel Weinbren have examined the role played by friendly societies both as cultural organizations and as sources of welfare support, and Weinbren has also explored the relationship between friendly societies and philanthropy.1 Nor has interest been con ned to purely historical circles. In recent years, commentators on both le and right have attempted to invoke the vibrancy of Britain’s mutualist tradition as an alternative to the ‘top-down’ welfare state.2