Davey: Govt fail to produce plan to end social care crisis

Responding to the Health Secretary's letter to MPs announcing his plans for cross-party talks on a long-term solution for the social care crisis, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

"Our country faces a social care crisis. One in 11 care worker roles are reportedly unfilled and people have been spending exorbitant amounts of money funding their care, with many being forced to sell their homes.

"People deserve better. It is disappointing, therefore, that in seeking cross-party consensus, the Government has not bothered to set out any of their own thinking, analysis or even some criteria and principles.

"If this process is to be truly cross-party, the Government must commit to being open and transparent.

"In any future care model, the Government must not be allowed to forget the collective principles underlying our NHS: that our society benefits when we pooling the risks of one of us being ill or needing long term care.

"Liberal Democrats have long called for such an approach and we are ready to play our part in ensuring that all adults who need social care receive the support they need."