Boris Narrowly Sees Off Revolt On Social Care Cap

MPS last night narrowly approved Government proposals on how its social care cap for England is calculated.

- Macer Hall

They voted 272 votes to 246 – a majority of 26 – in favour of a new clause 49 being added to the Health and Care Bill.

Earlier Boris Johnson had faced an explosion of cross-party anger over his move to water down the cap on social care costs.

The proposals involved a cap of £86,000 on personal care. But a late amendment on the plan originally drawn up by Sir Andrew Dilnot means support payments from local councils won’t go towards it.

People will therefore have to pay £86,000 of their own money before reaching the cap.

Sir Andrew, an economist, joined the outcry and condemned the revised plan as “a catastrophe”.

Backbenchers also hit out at the revision following fears poorer pensioners will be forced to pay all their savings and sell their home for adult social care in England.

Robbery

Christian Wakeford, a Tory MP from the so-called “Red Wall” former Labour heartlands in the north of England, said: “To change, to move the goalposts after we’ve already been introduced this, it’s not something I’m comfortable with.