Tory MP defends refusal to support care plans

BIRMINGHAM MP Andrew Mitchell has explained why he refused to support controversial changes to the Government’s social care plans, in a key House of Commons vote.

Boris Johnson had his Commons majority slashed on Monday night, as a number of Tory MPs opposed a change to social care reforms that critics say will hit less wealthy pensioners, including many in the Midlands and North.

A total of 19 Tories voted against the Government while others, including Mr Mitchell, abstained.

Mr Mitchell, the MP for Sutton Coldfield and former Secretary of State for International Development, said: “I think the social care reforms the Government has introduced are brave and urgent and the Government deserves credit for introducing them. But this particular measure changes one aspect of what we introduced in 2014 which I do not think is the right thing to do.”

He added: “In addition, a white paper is imminent, which may also help get the balance right. Hence my abstention rather than opposition .”

The Commons supported a Government amendment by 272 votes to 246, cutting the Government’s majority to 26.

Mr Johnson had defended the plans as “incredibly generous”.

The Government announced that a £86,000 cap on lifetime care costs will be put into place from October 2023. However, a policy paper showed only personal contributions will count towards that cap for people who receive financial support from a local authority for some care.

That means people with less wealth, including the value of the home, will see a higher proportion of their assets eaten up by care costs. People with total assets of £186,000 or less, including the value of their home, could face higher bills than previously thought.

In practice, this means people in the Midlands and North will be hit, as they tend to have fewer assets than those in the south.