Criticism mounts as government delays announcing reform of social care funding

WORK ON reforming funding of social care has been set back by the pandemic, despite Boris Johnson promising he had a plan ready to go when he became Prime Minister in July 2019.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said Ministers were “committed” to finding a “cross-party” solution – although Labour claimed there had been a lack of dialogue.

Mr Sunak faced criticism from care groups, MPs and charities over the absence of measures to address growing social care pressures in this year’s Budget.

Mr Sunak was asked during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme why there was no mention of social care in his financial statement.

He said: “We are committed to finding, ideally, a cross-party solution to sustainable social care funding – it is important given the long-term duration of social care policy that, as much as possible, we would like to build consensus around a solution.

“Obviously right now our focus is the pandemic.

“I know the Health Secretary has started that work on trying to see what the solutions might be and at the appropriate time, if we can find consensus on a solution, we will bring that forward and have that conversation, but that is something that of course we remain committed to.”

Successive governments have failed to address the situation which can both leave families facing ruinously expensive care costs while the system as a whole struggles for funding.

In his first speech after becoming Prime Minister in July 2019, months before the start of the pandemic, Mr Johnson said he was “announcing now – on the steps of Downing Street – that we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared”.

But almost two years on there is no sign of that plan and Number 10 acknowledged work on the proposals – due to finally be produced this year – had been held up by the pandemic.