18Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Social care: Unfair changes an ‘insult’ to families facing eye-watering costs

Social care: Unfair changes an ‘insult’ to families facing eye-watering costs

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the Government’s social care plans are even less generous than previously thought, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP, said: “It beggars belief that months after the Prime Minister announced his ‘plan’ to fix social care he is now moving the goal posts to make it less generous for those who can least afford it. "The least well-off families will now be hit by the Tories double whammy: an unfair tax rise to pay for social care, and bigger personal care bills. “The lifetime cap on care costs was already far from generous. Now someone with fewer assets could see the amount they pay in care cost double with the Prime Minister’s last minute changes to the plan. “Sneaking out these unfair…
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10Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Call for emergency visas to tackle ‘self-inflicted’ care staff crisis

Call for emergency visas to tackle ‘self-inflicted’ care staff crisis

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for emergency changes to the immigration rules to make care workers eligible for visas, as the Government’s vaccine mandate comes into force, threatening to add to the 105,000 vacancies in social care. 60,000 social care workers could lose their jobs according to data from the National Care Forum and the Department of Health and Social Care. UNISON and the National Care Forum have warned that the “recruitment and retention emergency” has been caused by “low wages, staff burnout, and mandatory vaccination”. Under the Conservatives’ new immigration rules, which came into effect in January, most frontline care roles are not eligible for skilled worker visas, leaving no route for employers to recruit care staff from abroad. The Liberal Democrats are calling for that rule to be…
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26Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Public sector pay: NHS and social care workers to face £900m NI tax rise

Public sector pay: NHS and social care workers to face £900m NI tax rise

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of giving with one hand and snatching away with the other on public sector pay, given the national insurance tax hike and worsening cost of living crisis. Previous analysis by the House of Commons Library commissioned by the Liberal Democrats estimates that those working in health and social care will be faced with a tax hit of over £900 million due to the Conservative government’s manifesto-breaking hike to national insurance. The research shows a nurse or midwife on an average salary would see their tax bill rise by £310 next year, care home workers would pay around £140 more and ambulance staff would face a £420 increase. The average NHS worker across all staff groups will pay £315 more a year. Liberal Democrat…
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07Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government social care plan won’t fix crisis and is a broken promise

Government social care plan won’t fix crisis and is a broken promise

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Boris Johnson has failed to produce a sustainable social care plan and broken his election promise not to raise national insurance, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: “This is yet another broken promise from the Conservatives that will hit working families hard. Boris Johnson gave voters a cast iron guarantee that he would not raise National Insurance – and now he’s breaking voters’ trust again. “Even worse, the Government’s plans won’t fix the social care crisis. Our loved ones will still not get the quality care they need. “This is two broken promises in one: a betrayal of taxpayers especially the low paid, young and small business and a betrayal of carers and people who need care. “People deserve a Government they…
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03Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government ripping off those who can least afford social care

Parliamentary news
Responding to Sajid Javid's call for a 2% rise in national insurance to pay for social care, Munira Wilson MP, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, said: "This is an unfair and unjust way to reform social care. It will hit the youngest and the lowest paid whilst protecting the wealthiest. "Sajid Javid is putting the burden on the same people who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, and Boris Johnson has today broken his manifesto promise not to raise taxes. "Has it really taken all this time, to make a decision to rip-off the people who can least afford to shoulder the burden of social care? "Some people affected are about to get their £20 per week Universal Credit cut. Now thanks to this Government they…
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15Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Health & Care Bill: Power-grab does nothing for Care

Health & Care Bill: Power-grab does nothing for Care

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Second Reading of the Health and Care bill, which will reorganise the NHS and hand more powers to the Health Secretary, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: "The Government are kidding themselves if they think reorganising the NHS is a simple and straightforward task. With well over five million people now waiting for medical treatment, including 16,000 people suffering with cancer, and the pandemic being far from over, now is not the time to embark on a major and disruptive restructuring of the NHS. “This is not only the wrong time for this Bill but it makes barely any mention of reform to social care. Every year thousands of vulnerable people lie stranded in hospitals long after they could have been discharged because there is…
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14Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ten years on from Dilnot, Tories have Done ‘Nowt’ about social care

Ten years on from Dilnot, Tories have Done ‘Nowt’ about social care

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Ten years on after the Dilnot Report made recommendations to fairly and properly fund social care, the Conservative Government has still woefully failed to act in the face of a worsening underfunding crisis. Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is dismayed that after a decade of inaction under Tory ministers Britain’s elderly and most vulnerable people in receipt of care still face a future of anxiety and uncertainty. “Whilst in the recent Queen’s speech contained just nine words about social care and no more money,” laments Councillor Sykes. “The Dilnot Report was published on 4 July 2011 during the Coalition Government. It sought a commitment that Dilnot would be delivered, but the commitment was soon ditched once the Tories ruled alone." Councillor Sykes added: “The Prime Minister…
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29Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Munira Wilson secures social care talks with Javid

Munira Wilson secures social care talks with Javid

Parliamentary news
Munira Wilson has secured a commitment from the new Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, to meet to discuss social care reforms, as the Liberal Democrats continue to push for full cross-party talks on the issue. In the House of Commons, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care highlighted the tens of thousands of people who have died from Covid in care homes, as well as the 7 million carers who have seen their mental health worsen during the pandemic. She asked Javid for a meeting with herself and the party’s Leader Ed Davey to start cross-party work on social care reform, and the Health Secretary agreed. Following the exchange, she said: “We urgently need to build cross-party agreement on a long-term sustainable future for social care. “As things…
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government treating social care as an afterthought

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Prime Minister to start cross-party talks on his social care reforms now, as a new report warns that local services are facing a ‘deluge’ of requests for care and support. The warning comes in a survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, published today [16 June]. Meanwhile, a separate report by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee concludes that social care is “not properly funded, lacks transparency and urgently needs reform”. Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Spokesperson, Munira Wilson MP, said: “The Covid pandemic has reminded us all of the importance of social care. But it has also shown that it is too often an afterthought for this Conservative Government. “More than 1.5 million people are missing out on the…
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10Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
More support needed for carers after pandemic

More support needed for carers after pandemic

Parliamentary news
Responding to new ONS figures on carers, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: “These figures confirm something the pandemic has demonstrated: we are a nation of carers. Millions of people are looking after elderly, disabled and vulnerable people. They deserve our support, but are too often forgotten and ignored by people in power. “Worryingly, the data also reveals that unpaid carers have been impacted more than most by the pandemic, in terms of their well-being, work, finances, relationships, healthcare and access to everyday essentials. Looking after a loved one is always hard, but it’s especially tough right now. “We must do far more to support our wonderful carers, including raising Carer’s Allowance and giving every unpaid carer a break. “The Liberal Democrats are standing up for carers…
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