Labour’s proud history is crying out for rejuvenation | Letters
John Harris's stimulating piece (Can Labour forge a new 21st-century socialism?, 24 September) contained a dangerous proposal: to devolve social security powers to "the most local level possible". Does he mean that social security benefit rates and regulations would be decided at this level? If so, this would undermine social security's status as a human right, which provides protection regardless of where citizens live within a country, turning it into a "postcode lottery".
The precedent of devolution of parts of the social fund to local welfare assistance schemes in England - either cut back or abolished completely in many hard-pressed local authorities - does not augur well. The "authoritarian and hateful" elements of the current benefits system are due not to its centralised nature but to punitive policies, which could just as well be applied by some local authorities, with less chance of legal redress. Yes, such a policy would mean leaving the 20th century - for the 19th century or even earlier, with shades of the poor law. The priority for the 21st century should be a decent social security scheme that provides genuine security and respects the rights and dignity of all.
Ruth Lister
Labour, House of Lords