Now for the real examination

If William Beveridge were commissioned to write another report into Britain’s social ills, he would find that two of his ‘giant evils’ — ignorance and idleness — still stalk and shame Britain.

If William Beveridge were commissioned to write another report into Britain’s social ills, he would find that two of his ‘giant evils’ — ignorance and idleness — still stalk and shame Britain. At the time, one might have argued that this was because schools lacked enough money or because the economy was a ruin. But today, when schools enjoy record funding and immigrants occupy one in seven jobs, only one conclusion can be drawn: that the welfare state has been incubating the very evils it was designed to eradicate. It betrays our country’s most vulnerable people. David Cameron has committed himself to reversing this.

His social agenda — led by Michael Gove in education and Iain Duncan Smith in welfare — is as bold as any we have seen since the creation of the welfare state.