Contributor(s): Michael Ward, Jonathan Derbyshire, Professor David Piachaud, Stephen Timms MP | Tackling poverty and inequality is at the heart of progressive politics. But what can history tell us about the struggle for a fairer society, and where does the work of Beatrice Webb, the co-founder of LSE and advocate of the welfare state, fit in? Jonathan Derbyshire is the culture editor of the New Statesman. Professor David Piachaud is Professor of Social Policy at LSE. Stephen Timms is MP for East Ham and shadow minister for employment. Michael Ward is a Smith Institute Research Fellow and chairman of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies.