Tories boycott Labour care talks
By Ian Dunt
The Tories will boycott Labour-organised discussions on a national care service, after branding them a government smokescreen.
Andy Burnham, health secretary, will be holding talks with charities, local authorities and care providers to discuss the provision of elderly care, a subject which has prompted bitter rows in the Commons this month.
But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley is lobbying hard against the proposal of mandatory £20,000 levies on people’s estates when they die, which would go towards funding the service.
“I will talk to anybody, anytime, anywhere, but I won’t take part in a Labour party political smokescreen that stops people making progress and covers up the fact that they are pursuing the option of a compulsory death tax,” he told GMTV.
Labour claims to recognise the problems in the idea, with Mr Burnham’s letter to the conference saying each proposal had pros and cons.
“A voluntary option gives people more choice and control but will not cover everyone. A compulsory option provides peace of mind and care free at the point of use when needed, but restricts choice,” he said.
The Tories argue that compulsory systems effectively penalise families who chose to care for their elderly at home, and encourage them to pass the burden onto the state.
The conference comes after attempts to form a cross-party consensus on the issue bit the dust when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats walked out of talks with Labour.
