With the Conservative Party breaking new ground in forming a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, this book examines the development and content of the Conservatives' approaches to social policy and how they inform the Coalition's policies.

Chapters cover the development of Conservative Party social policy and specific policy areas. The book will be of interest to academics, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and everyone with an interest in the Conservative Party and the Coalition government's social policies.

"This timely and eagerly awaited collection from leading commentators is an essential guide to the current government's social policy." Martin Powell, Professor of Health and Social Policy, University of Birmingham
"This is indeed a very timely and useful collection. Following so quickly on the accession to power of the new Coalition government, dominated by the Conservatives, this analysis of the party's key policy plans will be essential reading for all social policy students in the UK. The Editor and The Policy Press are to be congratulated in getting it out so swiftly." Pete Alcock, University of Birmingham

Hugh Bochel is Professor of Public Policy at the University of Lincoln. He has published widely in public and social policy, including the politics of social policy.