When does a tidal wave become a soaking for some and a drought for others? New Labour's "Choice Agenda" and the case of social care

In its historic third term in government, “New” Labour is championing the choice agenda in the provision of public services including health and social care. This has been reflected in recent policy shifts such as the 2005 social care Green Paper, “Independence, Well-Being and Choice”, and the White Paper, “Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services” the following year, in which choice for users is promoted, for example through the expansion of direct payment. However, as the work of Clarke, Jordan and Schwartz amongst others have indicated, “choice” is not the straightforward vehicle by which to modernise public services. The paper therefore explores and critiques aspects of Labour’s choice agenda with specific reference to research into the views of service users and other stakeholders in the provision of social care for older people.