ir Keir Starmer is expected to use a speech at a summit for Labour leaders in local government to set out his stall for the reform of social care.
Sir Keir will be speaking after a week in which the Government unveiled manifesto-busting plans to raise national insurance in order to clear the NHS backlog and fix the social care crisis.
But Labour has been criticised, including by those inside the party, for not presenting an alternative while slamming Boris Johnson’s plans.
At the LGA Labour Leaders’ Summit on Saturday, where Sir Keir is attending in person, he is expected to say that Labour would “ask those with the broadest shoulders to carry the burden”.
He will say: “Labour’s aim isn’t just to ‘fix the crisis in social care’ – as the Prime Minister has repeatedly promised but failed to deliver. Instead, Labour’s vision for social care is to ensure all older and disabled people get the support they need to live the life they choose.”
He is expected to outline how this would include a shift to prevention and early intervention for those with care needs, and a preference for keeping them at home.
He will say that Labour would “champion independent and fulfilling lives for working-age adults with disabilities – so people have choice and control over the support they get, and their views drive change in the system”.
Sir Keir will promise a “new deal” for care workers and unpaid carers.
He will say that by comparison, the Government plan is “a rushed out, half-baked, mess that won’t give social care the resources needed, won’t actually reform social care, won’t create more and better-paid jobs, isn’t fair across the regions or generations, and won’t stop people selling off their homes to fund care”.
Sir Keir will appeal to local authorities as he will suggest the PM’s proposals will force them to raise council tax as they will not receive any extra cash.
He will add: “This is an unfair plan that doesn’t work. And who is left with the bill? It’s working people. It’s especially low earners and young people who have already borne the brunt of the economic impact of the pandemic.”
