This week the government have finally acted to tackle the NHS backlog and put more money in Social Care to help the vulnerable.
The changes, which go against the Conservatives’ manifesto promise not to raise taxes, will mean hard-pressed local families and small businesses will be left paying hundreds of pounds more in tax each year.
These plans disproportionally tax working people. This is not fair.
I’m very concerned about the fairness of a new tax on the wages of nurses, care workers and shop-workers but not on income from investments or to landlords.
Under the Conservatives’ broken tax plan, Nurses will pay an extra £325 per year on average.
This Conservatives’ tax rise will not solve the national crisis in social care funding, it won’t fix the staffing crisis in care homes and it does nothing for millions of unpaid carers looking after loved ones at home.
Social care is local care
Most adult social care is carried out by local not central government. As Leader of Portsmouth Council, I see every day how a lack of resources affects what we can do for those in our care.
I’m therefore proud that by continuing to manage our budget well, Portsmouth’s Lib Dem councillors had already found an extra £2.8 million to deliver better adult social care this year (which sadly Labour councillors joined with the Conservatives and voted against).
This includes funding Edinburgh House, a new investment to build at least 40 extra care sheltered homes for people with dementia in Cosham.
The new homes will give residents the dignity of their own flat, as well as 24 hour care.
We’re also building new sheltered housing with affordable rents for both the elderly and the rising number of often overlooked, working age adults with disabilities who require care.
Lib Dems nationally have long called for cross-party talks on how to fund social care in a fair and sustainable way, along with urgent action to fix the staffing crisis in care homes and give unpaid carers the recognition they deserve.
This should be the way forward.
You can read about it and sign his petition below.