Social care plans slammed by MPs
THE Government’s controversial social care plan which will see poorer pensioners pay more for their care has been criticised by North East MPs.
A majority of MPs voted through the reform despite a significant rebellion from Conservative members.
The bill passed by 272 votes to 246 as 19 Tories voted against their own party, while a further 69 chose to abstain.
The long-awaited reforms have attracted criticism in recent days after a late change was made to the bill which will leave poorer people – particularly in the north – having to pay more for their care.
Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery, who earlier this week branded the changes as a “con,” launched a scathing attack on the Government.
He said: “It is frankly a disgrace this has been voted through when it is obvious for anyone to see just how damaging this will be for so many low-income families especially here in the North East.
“The idea any levelling-up programme could contain a social care plan like this is ridiculous.
“A leopard cannot change its spots and again this Conservative Government has shown it is no different to its predecessors.”
He was joined by his fellow Labour MP Easington’s Grahame Morris, who claimed the Conservatives had “lied” to voters at the last election.
A key manifesto pledge by the Conservatives in the run up to the 2019 election was that nobody would have to sell their home to fund their social care.
Mr Morris said: “The social care cap is unfair and shows Conservative election promises are worthless from a Prime Minister who cannot be trusted.
“No new taxes was the promise, and it is for County Durham Tories to explain why they lied to their voters at the last election.
“By voting for this unfair Social Care Tax, the Tories are cutting family budgets and taking food off the table of people in East Durham to protect the property and substantial wealth only a few enjoy.”
Changes in the cap on care costs will affect those with less than £186,000 in assets.
They mean it will take longer for people on lower incomes who receive state help to reach the new £86,000 cap on lifetime care costs.
That is because only the amount they pay, not the state assistance they receive, will count towards the cap.
Homeowners with high care needs but less expensive property – such as in parts of the North – are expected to be hit with higher costs while those with pricier homes will be unaffected.
Defending the changes, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the reforms makes paying for social care “fairer.”
He said the package as a whole “improves the provision of social care and makes fairer the way it is paid for and removes some injustices which have existed in the system for far too long”.
No 10 has said it would not change course on the cap despite the backlash from Tory MPs. A spokesman said: “We continue to believe this is a system which is necessary, fair and responsible.”