Inside Politics: Cabinet split on social care reform funding and anger at jabs delay

A simmering cabinet row over how to fund social care reform comes back to the boil as reports today say Sajid Javid, the health secretary, is calling for a further rise in NI contributions. Elsewhere, Dominic Raab visits Pakistan for talks on Afghanistan and anger is growing over delays to the UK’s vaccine booster programme and a decision on jabs for kids.

Raab’s overdue tour of the regions surrounding Afghanistan continues today. The foreign secretary holds talks with Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Quresh, his opposite number in Pakistan, about how to ensure a safe passage out for those still stuck in Afghanistan. Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, is on the broadcast round for the government.

Coming up:

-Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds on Sky News at 8.05am

-Justice secretary Robert Buckland on ITV Good Morning Britain at 8.30am

NI HIKE: Sajid Javid, the health secretary, is calling for a 2 per cent hike in NI contributions to fund social care reforms, it has been reported. The issue, which has split the cabinet and breaks a Conservative manifesto pledge, has been on the back burner over the summer months but now returns to the boil just days before an expected announcement. Johnson has faced increasing pressure to offer details on his plan for social care reform, which he said was ready when speaking on the steps of Downing Street in 2019.

CABINET ROW: It had previously been reported that Johnson and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, had agreed to a 1 per cent rise – reportedly a ride line for No 11. But Javid says the £10 billion raised from a mooted one per cent rise is not enough, according to this morning’s Times, which splashes on the story. Five cabinet ministers are said to oppose any rise because NI contributions disproportionately hit the young and low paid. Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, is among other senior Tories opposed to increasing NI contributions. Writing in the Telegraph, he calls on Johnson to raise taxes instead of NI contributions but warns the PM any increase would be “a brave step for a Conservative government”. One to watch in the coming days.

‘LEFT IN THE DARK’: Thousands of Afghans evacuated to Britain in recent weeks are set to be placed in temporary hotel accommodation for an indefinite period as local councils say they have been left “in the dark” about how they can help. Charities warn that the mental health of already traumatised people is likely to suffer as a result of the use of hotels, and that this will be exacerbated by the lack of information given to them about when and where they will be permanently housed. The lack of clarity was causing “unnecessary worrying and anxiety,” to new arrivals, said one charity working with refugees.

DIRE WARNING: Tom Tugendhat, the Tory MP and foreign affairs committee chair who gave Dominic Raab a major grilling on Wednesday, has issued another dire warning over the future of Afghanistan now the Taliban is back in full control. Speaking at an event hosted by Policy Exchange, the centre-right think tank, Tugendhat, a former soldier who served in the region, said the militant’ takeover is “only the beginning of a new stage of chaos” – not just for Afghanistan, but for international relations more broadly. He predicts anarchy under Taliban rule, with China and Russia rushing in to fill the power vacuum, potentially drawing the US into a fresh confrontation.

JAB DELAYS: Covid vaccines are another theme featured in several of today’s papers, with frustration growing over delays to the UK’s booster programme and still no decision on jabs for kids. “More jabbing, less jabber!” declares The Sun. But the PM has poured cold water on the chances of early shots for England’s teenagers, insisting that his priority going into the winter is to start a programme of booster jabs for the elderly this month.

“This isn’t over. This is only the beginning of a new stage of chaos.”

Tory MP and foreign affairs committee chair Tom Tugendhat on end of UK mission in Afghanistan.

“Labour still likely to oppose NI as means to fix this as it disproportionately impacts young and low paid. And we shouldn’t get too excited until HMT and No 10 are singing from same hymn sheet. They are edging closer together but not there yet.”

Daily Mirror political editor Pippa Crerar on reports of tax rises to fund social care reform.