Meandrogog- not yet happened? Crikey- a somewhat deluded and pessimistic view!
I would vote for any party that seeks to build a fairer more equitable society even if all the odds are stacked against them. I would vote to keep out a party that seeks to dismantle the building blocks we already have in place that support a fairer and more equitable society. Here are several defining legislative and political milestones that mark this evolution over the past more or less 100 years- we must make sure they are not lost:
Key political changes that transformed Britain into a fairer, more equitable society include the establishment of the post-war welfare state, the progressive extension of universal suffrage, and the implementation of robust anti-discrimination and human rights legislation.
1 Expanding the Franchise Universal Suffrage
Representation of the People Act (1918): Granted the vote to all men over 21 and women over 30 who met minimum property qualifications.
Equal Franchise Act 1928: Lowered the voting age for women to 21, granting them the exact same voting rights as men.
Representation of the People Act 196): Lowered the universal voting age from 21 to 18, reflecting the changing societal responsibilities of young adults.
2 Building the Welfare State
Beveridge Report 1942 & Post-War Reforms: Formed the blueprint for the modern welfare system.
*The Butler Ac*t 1944 established free universal secondary education for all children and raised the school leaving age to 15
National Health Service Act 1946: Spearheaded by Aneurin Bevan, this established the NHS in 1948, providing free healthcare at the point of use based on clinical need rather than ability to pay.
National Insurance Act 1946: Created a comprehensive social security net to protect citizens from "cradle to grave" against unemployment, sickness, and old age.
3 Securing Civil Rights and Social Equality
Equal Pay Act 1970: Made it illegal to discriminate between men and women in terms of pay and conditions of employment.
Race Relations Acts (1965, 1968, 1976): Progressively outlawed racial discrimination in public places, employment, and housing. The 1976 Act also established the Commission for Racial Equality.
Sex Discrimination Act 1975: Protected individuals from discrimination on the grounds of sex or marital status in employment, education, and training.
4 Human Rights and Constitutional Protection
Human Rights Act 199): Incorporated the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) directly into UK domestic law, allowing citizens to defend their fundamental rights in British courts.
Equality Act 2010: Streamlined and strengthened decades of fragmented anti-discrimination laws. It legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and wider society based on "protected characteristics," including age, disability, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.