THE DEMENTIA TA X BACKLASH
MOS POLL: VOTERS HAIL THERESA’S COMMON TOUCH EVEN AS CORBYN NARROWS THE GAP
Tories’ lead slips by 5% after pledge to make more elderly pay for care But they’re still 12% ahead (and voters even prefer May to Maggie)
THERESA MAY’S hopes of an Election landslide hit a setback last night when a poll showed strong opposition to her plan to make more elderly people pay for care.
A Survation poll for The Mail on Sunday showed the
Conservative lead over Labour has fallen to 12 per cent, a five point drop in a week. It follows the release of last week’s Tory manifesto which included social care reforms that were quickly branded a ‘Dementia Tax’ by critics.
The proposals would mean that tens of thousands of people who receive care at home could face costly bills as – for the first time – the value of a person’s home will be included in their assets, with only the last £100,000 protected.
According to the poll, the Conservatives are now on 46 per cent, Labour on 34 and the Lib Dems on eight. Just seven days ago, the average Tory poll lead was 17.
The Survation poll indicates 47 per cent oppose Mrs May’s social care funding plans, with 28 per cent in favour. Significantly, 28 per cent say the proposals have made them less likely to vote Tory, with eight
‘It’s a tough choice on social care, but it’s right’
per cent more likely to do so. More than half say it has made them more worried about getting older, caring for elderly relatives, owning a house and securing their children’s future.
However, the poll also offers a series of boosts for the Prime Minister – and blows to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Mrs May’s manifesto move away from Margaret Thatcher-style policies is very well received.
Many see Mrs May as nearly as supportive of the working class as Mr Corbyn.
Even more embarrassing for Mr Corbyn, four out of ten non-Labour voters attracted to some of his policies, such as renationalising the railways and making the rich pay more tax, say they could not vote for them because Mr Corbyn was either incapable of making them work or they were impractical.
Even before last night’s poll, Tory chiefs were privately braced for controversy over the social care c hanges. And e vi dence soon emerged of Tory tensions. Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, a GP, said it was right to tackle tough issues, but added: ‘It comes as a huge shock to many to discover that if they have assets above £23,250 they are liable for all the costs of residential care. The sting in the tail is that the proposals bring property assets into the means test for those needing care at home, and wealthier pensioners will lose winter fuel payments.’
Her comments were echoed by fellow Conservative MP Bob Blackman who said: ‘I support the policy but clearly there needs to be a limit on how much any i ndividual or family is required to pay.’ There were reports the social care proposal was inserted into the manifesto at the last minute by Mrs May’s powerful No 10 chief of staff Nick Timothy. The decision by Mr Timothy, who has argued for extra taxes on inheritance, is said to have been opposed by John Godfrey, the head of the No 10 policy unit. Mrs May sided with Mr Timothy.
But the proposal was defended by Treasury Chief Secretary David Gauke, who said: ‘It’s easy for politicians to stand up and deliver a long list of “free this, free that”. That’s not what Theresa May is
doing. There are tough choices on issues like social care and winter fuel. It is bold, but it’s right.’
Mrs May’s decision not to flinch f r om t ough decisi ons i n her manifesto i s vindicated by a more favourable response to other proposals. Fears that abandoning David Cameron’s vow not to raise income tax or national insurance would provoke uproar have proved unfounded: 38 per cent support it with 39 per cent against. Scrapping winter fuel handouts for better-off elderly people is endorsed by nearly one in two voters.
Her hardline threat to walk away from the EU with no deal if talks in Brussels break down is backed by 45 per cent with 33 against. Mrs May will also draw comfort from support for the apparent shift in her manifesto away from ‘Thatcherite’ policies, highlighted by promi ses to give more help to the working class and less to the rich.
Most surprising of all, asked if Mrs May or Mr Corbyn is most likely to help the working class, the Labour leader scores 37 per cent with the PM not far behind on 31.
But she has her work cut out to win approval for other parts of her manifesto. There is strong opposition to ending the guaranteed a nnual 2 . 5 per c e nt pensi o n rise and scrapping free hot lunches for all primary school children. The new survey suggests the Tory majority could be less than 100, still a massive win, but significantly lower than Mrs Thatcher’s 1983 landslide.
Survation interviewed 1,017 people online on Friday and yesterday.