The 10% and 6% lead Theresa May’s Conservatives had in two previous polls, which led to predictions of a historic triumph, has been wiped out after a resurgence of support for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party in the last two weeks.
Advertisement
In addition to defending their own policies, you can expect the Tories to step up their attacks on Labour’s manifesto, and on the credibility of its leader. A green paper is promised but on issues which are “not merely a function of money”. It’s completely unrealistic, what they’re doing. However, there was no mention that the cost would be capped.
Under the proposals unveiled last Thursday in her party’s manifesto, people would have to pay for their social care if they had assets worth more than £100,000.
“Families know they will have to pay a lot more for their domiciliary care”, he said. May’s opponents dubbed it a “dementia tax”, saying it will particularly hit those who need long-term care at home.
But that is not the case if you receive care in your own home.
One Labour insider characterised the mood in the Corbyn camp as “extremely positive”, after the Labour leader attracted a crowd of thousands to a rally in super-marginal Wirral West and then heard his name chanted in approval by rock fans when he appeared on stage before the Libertines at a music festival at Tranmere Rovers football ground in Birkenhead. The King’s Fund called the plans “deeply disappointing”.
Otherwise, he added, it could not be expected to cope with the demands under the so-called “dementia tax” Mrs May plans to introduce. Corbyn was correct to say that people would have to pay more.
May had sought to poach traditional Labour supporters with a mix of pledges more radical than those of her predecessor, David Cameron.
What did the manifesto say before?
Secondly, people in both settings will only have to contribute to care costs from their capital above a floor of £100,000.
However, Mrs May said there would be consultation over what should be the maximum anyone should have to pay – a cap – something the party had previously ruled out.
“Second to ensure this is fair”.
Tim Farron branded the U-turn “May’s manifesto meltdown”, but said it changed nothing for families concerned about the bill for care for elderly relatives. This means that people will always be left with £100,000 of assets to pass on to family.
“Let’s be clear. This plan replaces the existing system where people often get poor quality care – and stand to lose nearly all their savings and assets, including the family home”.
A Conservative government would consult on a possible cap on social care costs, Theresa May has announced. “She’s standing as “could be relied on”, stable and trustworthy; I think the people have got the real measure of this woman – you can’t trust her”. We are proposing the right funding model for social care. How much will be subject of further consultation.
Advertisement
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, speaking about the idea of a cap on costs on the day the manifesto was published, said the Conservatives were “being completely explicit in our manifesto that we’re dropping it”. We were honest that we were going to have a green paper and would be consulting people on how the system operates.
