Labour are calling on Tory MPs to join them tomorrow in opposing
changes to social care cap that will hit Northern and Midlands
constituencies the hardest. The change is expected to be voted on
by MPs tomorrow (Monday 22 November) as an amendment to the
Health and Social Care Bill.
This comes as new analysis by the Labour Party using local house
price data shows the stealth changes to social care proposals are
set to hammer homeowners in the North.
Reforms to social care plans – shamefully snuck out during
Labour’s debate on Tory corruption – will see people with high
care needs and assets under £186k paying more for their care.
Homeowners with houses worth under £186k will be hit with higher
costs, whilst those with homes worth over £186k will be
unaffected.
The average house is worth under £186k in 107
constituencies in the North of England –
compared to 0 across London and the South East.
Constituencies where the changes are likely to hit the average
homeowner hardest include Workington (average value 160k), Barrow
and Furness (155k), Don Valley (155k), Redcar (133k) and
Bishop Auckland (125k).
Homeowners in the North East will be particularly badly affected,
with average house prices under £186k in nearly nine out of ten
constituencies.
The changes will also affect the average homeowner in 34
constituencies in the Midlands, around one in three.
This adds a further blow to northern communities as the
government sells them out by rowing back on promises to build new
high speed rail across the region
Andrew Dilnot, author of the report that informed the
government’s own plans, said he was “very disappointed” by the
changes that “finds savings exclusively from the less well
off.”
, Shadow Secretary of
State for Health and Social Care said:
“Government ministers have not only whacked up tax on working
people but are now asking MPs to vote for pensioners across the
North and Midlands with modest assets to be hit hardest under
Boris Johnson’s care con.
“ ’Red wall’ Tories should learn the lessons of the past two
weeks, put their constituents first ,and join us in voting down
this deeply unfair proposal. Ministers need to get back to the
drawing board and come up with a fairer package.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
- Under proposals released by the government on the
17th November, contributions to the cost of care
made by local authorities for people with assets below £100k will
not be counted towards the new £86k cap on the cost of care.
- Anyone with assets below £186k that hits the gap due to high
care needs will end up paying more, whilst anyone with assets
above £186k will be unaffected.
- Median house prices are below £186k in 167 constituencies,
107 of which are in the North East, North West and Yorkshire
& the Humber. 348 have median house prices over £186k
including every seat in London and the South East.
House of Commons Library, November 2021 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-data-house-prices/
- 67% of seats in the North East, North West and Yorkshire
& the Humber have median house prices below £186k, meaning
the average homeowner in these areas with only their house as an
asset would face higher costs under new plans.
- The average homeowner in all seats in London and the South
East, regardless of other assets, is unaffected by the new plans.
- Andre Dilnot, author of the 2011 report that informed the
government’s plans, said he was “very disappointed” by the plans
and that they would hit homeowners in the North harder than those
in the south.
Evidence to the Treasury Select Committee,
18th November 2021, https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/d5c6a213
