Raise a penny on income tax to fix social care crisis - MP

On the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon, South Lakes MP Tim Farron urged ministers to raise income tax by a penny in every pound to properly fund social care in Britain.

Speaking during an Urgent Question in Parliament on the Government's plans for social care reform, Tim said: "I'm sure the minister will agree with me that probably the two conditions that people fear getting the most in their lives at some point are cancer and dementia.

"And yet if you get cancer, the NHS will take care of you, the taxpayer will fund your treatment. If you get dementia then broadly speaking that is not the case.

"The only way through this surely is a significant injection of money.

"That means being honest with the British people that collectively we will have to pay for it.

"Does she agree with me then that it would be right to say to the British people that they should pay an extra penny on income tax for social care so people will find themselves in a situation where they do not have to lose their home and lose their dignity if they lose their health?"

Responding, the health minister Helen Whately said: "I would not want to upset the Chancellor by talking about tax policy here at the dispatch box but as I have said to colleagues and in fact as the Prime Minister has said, one of the things we are committed to as part of our social care reforms is making sure that nobody has to sell their home to pay for their care."