Boris Johnson ‘backs new tax to fund social care plan’
It comes after prime minister promised to ‘fix’ social care crisis in 2019
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson is backing plans for a new tax to fund long-overdue reforms to social care in England, according to reports.
Downing Street is “comfortable with some sort of tax” to cover universal social care, a government source told The Times.
The reforms could also include a cap on how much people have to pay for their own care, it reported.
Mr Johnson promised he had a plan to “fix the crisis in social care” in July 2019. The government also pledged it would publish its long-awaited proposal to fix the system by the end of the year.
But new health secretary Sajid Javid said last week he could not put “an exact date” on the commitment. He said he hoped his department could reveal a “general sense of direction” soon.
According to The Times, the plans for social care reforms are still being finalised but there are “huge efforts from No10 to get the thing over the line”.
As well as a new tax to pay for the reforms, the proposals reportedly include extra funding to ensure more people get help and better bay for staff.
The prime minister, Mr Javid and chancellor Rishi Sunak are understood to be pushing to agree the terms of a package by as early as next Thursday, before the summer recess, The Telegraph reported.
Mr Johnson is thought to be keen to have something to present to the public before the second anniversary of his arrival at No 10 next weekend.
Caroline Abrahams, the charity director of Age UK, warned the government it could not offer a “penny pinching response” to the social care crisis.
She said: “If a credible package of social care refinancing and reform requires a tax rise, so be it, provided it’s fair. It would be worth it for the reassurance and dignity we all gained in return.”
Andrew Dilnot, who led a major review into social care funding a decade ago, warned earlier this year that the system could remain unfixed until after the next general election if plans were not revealed in the upcoming spending review.
“If we don’t make decisions this year, it’s very hard to see how they can be implemented before the next election,” he said.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments