Labour would support a levy on people’s estates when they die to fund social care if Andy Burnham wins the party’s leadership.
In a speech on Tuesday, the shadow Health Secretary revived his controversial plan for what the Conservatives have dubbed a “death tax.” They have claimed it could mean a 15 per cent levy on people’s estates, with an average bill of £46,000.
Burnham aides said the precise details would be recommended by a commission he would appoint after becoming leader, modelled on the one chaired by Sir William Beveridge which led to the creation of the post-war welfare state.
Mr Burnham’s commission would look at moving away from tuition fees towards a graduate tax for young people on technical as well as academic courses. It would also propose new ways to pay for housing to get more people on the ladder.
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The shadow Health Secretary said the NHS principle should be extended to social care “where everybody is asked to make a contribution according to their means and when everybody then has the peace of mind of knowing that all their care needs, and those of their family, are covered.”
Speaking in Leeds, Mr Burnham admitted: “I would have to persuade people of a difficult financial change to bring this about. And this is where the modern Labour Party has always backed off, fearing difficult headlines in the Tory press. But that timidity is leaving a broken care system in place and seeing many more family homes sold like my gran’s.
“I believe Labour needs to rediscover the self-confidence to make a big argument. It’s time to trust the people. If what we’re saying is right, and provides people with an answer, they will support us, whatever the media says.”
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Arguing that there is already a “dementia tax” in Britain today, Mr Burnham asked: “Didn’t the Labour Party create the NHS in the last century to free people from the fear of medical fees? So why is the Labour Party of the 21st century standing by while people with dementia are not just wiped out physically by their condition but financially too?”
On 28 July Jeremy Corbyn pitched for the votes of Labour’s women’s members by promising to have 50 per cent of women in his Shadow Cabinet if he becomes party leader and to aim for half of Labour MPs to be women. In a “Working with Women” document, Mr Corbyn proposed that challenging “everyday sexism”should be included sex and relationship education in schools; universal free childcare and an end to cuts driving women into poverty.
