Cumbrian conservatives fail to back call for more social care funding

Social care is not safe in the hands of the Conservatives, according to Cumbrian Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives today were in disarray as they failed to back a Lib Dem call for more social care funding.

A motion put forward by Peter Thornton, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Social Care, welcomed additional funds for social care but warned that they were "a fraction of the increase needed to provide the level of social care necessary for Cumbrian residents". The motion called for the council to write to government to stress the urgent need for extra funds.

The Liberal Democrats and Labour unanimously supported the motion, which was passed today at the last full county council meeting before the election. However, Conservative councillors were in disarray, as they failed either to vote for, against or to officially abstain on the vote.

In the recent budget, the government chose to spread £2billion of funding for social care over the next three years. The Health Foundation estimates that this much funding will be needed in the next year alone, meaning the system remains badly underfunded.

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron said: "This shows that the Conservatives can't be trusted with social care.

"Everyone knows that social care desperately needs extra funding, yet local Tories refuse to acknowledge this. The Conservatives sat on their hands rather than facing up to the problem. They have badly let down local residents who rely on care services.

"It is time for Cumbrian Conservatives to stand up for local residents rather than just defending what their party elites say in Whitehall."