Tory promise over elderly benefits
Graham Dines, election editor
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
4:51 PM
Tory promise over elderly benefits
IPSWICH: A senior member of David Cameron’s parliamentary team visited an old people’s home yesterday to reassure them that the Conservatives had no intention of end free bus travel and winter fuel allowances for pensioners.
Caroline Spelman, who is the Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities, described Labour’s campaigning as scaring people about “lies” over Tory policy.
“It is completely untrue and Labour knows it,” said Mrs Spelman, who visited Monmouth Court Nursing Home to chat to the elderly residents.
“Labour is misleading the voters on Tory policy on benefits for pensioners and is also hawking around Gordon Brown’s promise of free personal care elderly folk if Labour wins the election.
“This is a policy which cannot be implemented because the local authorities who would fund this promise has got been given any extra resources to fund it.
“The cost of looking after elderly people either in care homes like Monmouth Court or in their own homes is getting more and more expensive as people live longer.”
Mrs Spelman said a Tory government would a scheme which took account of the individual needs of people because it was not right that lifelong savings should be used entirely to fund elderly care.
“Free care for old folk who have no resources will not be affected by Tory plans. We will introduce an insurance scheme which would cost those who can afford it £8,000 and this premium will be used to fund the care of people who need it.”
Mrs Spelman said her party’s plans would be a complete care package designed to look after people in their later years.
“There has been quite a dramatic loss of care home beds and we have to provide for people who wish to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.
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5 comments
The Tories have also promised 'savage cuts', but yet have also promised tax breaks to millionnaires. The Tories have promised 'change', but do not want to change the FPTP 2-horse electoral system. As the Gummer family have proved in the past, Mole removal could prove to be costly for Ipswich and their taxpayers.
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NoMoreMurdoch
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The problem with the Tories' voluntary insurance is that it is unlikely to address the bulk of the problem. The most successful such scheme is the French one, and it's take-up is still only 24%. Policies like this suggest that the Tories are unworthy of a Commons majority, which would mean them not retaking Ipswich. Ipswich Lib Dem, Green and UKIP supporters can safely vote Labour to stop them without Brown preserving his own majority, whereas further up the Tory target list in Harwich voting Labour is too risky. A win there probably maintains a Labour Commons majority, so in Harwich the Tories must be supported to stop them.
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Hugh Parliament
Thursday, April 29, 2010
As usual all the promises made are before the election to get our votes! Then what happens when voted in? Oh yes there all forgot, all MPs are the same do not matter which party, voting is a total waste of time, as their all tarred with the same brush!!!
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ged scott
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Always promises BEFORE the election.
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JOHN BURLS
Thursday, April 29, 2010
can we assured that there will no cuts for the oap . with my benefit rising by some -where in region of a very few pounds but my electric supplier want £ 12 00 pcm rise so there goes my rise
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Reggie
Wednesday, April 28, 2010