Labour and Tories veto free personal care

21.01.03

Local MP Edward Davey voted in the House of Commons on Wednesday (15th January) to stop the Conservative and Labour MPs joining forces to block Liberal Democrat plans to scrap the charges for personal care.

The Government's Community Care (Delayed Discharge) Bill had contained a power that would allow any future Government to introduce free personal care quickly by regulations without a new Act of Parliament. The Government tabled an amendment on Wednesday night to restrict free care to no more than six weeks after discharge. Labour's plan to curb free care was opposed by Liberal Democrat MPs but won backing from Conservative MPs.

A future Government committed to introducing free personal care would have to amend the law.

Commenting on the debate Edward Davey MP said:

"Personal care should be free on the basis of a person's need not the size of their bank balance. We are not talking about luxuries here: we are simply saying that for people who need this help, with feeding, dressing, washing and intimate care, it should be free at the point of delivery.

"For Labour and Tory MPs to join forces to prevent a future Government introducing free personal care is appalling. The frail and chronically sick suffer a double whammy: they lose their health and then they lose their homes to pay for basic care.

"Liberal Democrats called for free care at the last General Election and we showed how it could be paid for. Labour, with the support of the Tories have relegated the elderly in England to the status of third class citizens. Thanks to the Liberal Democrats winning the case for free care the elderly in Scotland are treated with dignity and not discrimination. Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for that for English pensioners.