Backlash on Starmer’s ‘sympathy’ for Meghan
SIR Keir Starmer faces a bitter backlash from Labour MPs for ‘wobbling’ over Meghan’s racism claim about the Royal Family – and for ‘bungling’ the party’s tax plans.
They believe their leader ‘misjudged’ the public mood by initally appearing too sympathetic to the Duchess of Sussex’s explosive claims.
They say that sent a ‘terrible message’ to patriotic voters in the so-called Red Wall in the North of England and Midlands that Labour must win back from the Tories.
Labour MPs are also furious they were initially told not to oppose Tory income tax hikes in the Budget – only to be ordered last week to vote against them.
The angry mood comes amid predictions the party faces ‘disastrous’ results in local elections in May.
Last night, a member of Sir Keir’s front bench team, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the leader’s operation had to improve dramatically.
But they dismissed talk of a challenge to him after the May elections as ‘ridiculous’.
Sir Keir infuriated some MPs with his initial reaction to Meghan’s accusation of racism.
Asked if the Royal Family was ‘fit for purpose’, he had replied: ‘We’ll have to see how the institution reacts to this...’
He appeared to row back later in the week by declaring that ‘it is a matter now for the family’.
A former Shadow Minister said the initial comments sent a ‘terrible message’ to many traditional Labour voters who respect the Queen.
Sir Keir’s office declined to comment.
NURSING home fees in Scotland are set to rise to record levels, with care providers blaming the costs of the pandemic.
At the most expensive homes, residents will be asked to cough up more than £1,400 a week from next month – the start of the new financial year.
Facilities across the country are set to raise fees.
Some pensioners will have to pay hundreds of pounds more a month as charges increase by up to 5.9 per cent.
Robert Kilgour, chief executive of Renaissance Care, said: ‘We are facing increased staffing costs, PPE costs, food costs, medical supplies costs, cleaning supplies costs and huge increases in our insurance costs of around 75 per cent.’
However, campaigners say the rising costs could prevent elderly people from choosing where they want to see out their lives.
Brian Sloan from Age Scotland said: ‘The cost of residential social care is already hugely expensive.
‘News that these costs are rising exponentially could make it more difficult for older people to access the home they wish to live in.’
Care homes offer residential places or nursing places, depending on medical needs. People can choose to fund their own care by paying for a private home.
For others, a system of means testing determines how much a resident will contribute to care home fees and how much will be funded by the local council.
In the current financial year, councils in Scotland pay £740 a week for a nursing place and £635.79 for a residential place.
The agreed fee for 2021-22 is still being negotiated between local authorities and care providers.
But some private homes have confirmed that costs for residents who fund their own care are rising
One of the several Scottish homes
run by Care UK has introduced price increase of 5 per cent to £1,416 per week.
The company said some residents in local authority-funded places have chosen to top up fees to live in ‘premium home’ and future fee increases are set out clearly in their contracts.
A spokesman said: ‘We do our best to keep fee rises to a minimum. However, all care home providers have seen costs increase considerably over the last year.’
Care group Barchester operates more then 200 homes across the UK, with several in Scotland.
A spokesman said: ‘Our most recent resident contract outlines an annual uplift of 5.9 per cent, which is less than the increase in our cost base.’
Anyone with capital worth more than £28,500 must pay for their care home place, resulting in those who own their own property potentially having to sell it.
Residents with no assets or savings of less than £18,000 will have their fees paid for by the local authority.
‘Cost of care is already hugely expensive’