Although it has never declared a comprehensive 'war on poverty', the Labour Government that took office in 1997 has introduced an extensive set of measures designed to counter poverty in childhood and old age and to address individual and area-based social exclusion. A more equal society? brings together the expertise of a range of authors to provide an evaluation of Labour policy towards poverty and social exclusion between 1997 and 2004. It considers the challenges the government faced, examines the policies that were chosen and the targets set for them, and assesses results. A more equal society?: includes chapters on employment, inequalities in education and health, income inequality and political participation; asks how children, older people, poor neighbourhoods, ethnic minorities and other vulnerable groups have fared under New Labour; seeks to assess the government both on its own terms - in meeting its own targets - and according to alternative views of social exclusion; daws on the results of research carried out within the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) and on external evaluations. The book will be essential reading for academic and student audiences with an interest in contemporary social policy, as well as for all those who would like an objective account of Labour's achievements as it approaches the end of its second term in office.