Lib Dems would push for care settlement in hung parliament

The Liberal Democrats would use their influence in a hung parliament to push for a new funding settlement for social care based on all-party agreement.

In an interview with Community Care, shadow health secretary Norman Lamb said the party would attempt “to get all parties around the table” to set up an independent commission to examine adult care funding. It would report within a year and seek immediate implementation on proposed reforms.

Although Labour backs the idea of an all-party commission, the Conservatives do not because they oppose the introduction of a compulsory levy on all adults to pay for care.

But Lamb’s comments suggest that one of the conditions for Lib Dem support for a minority Tory government – a likely election result given the opinion polls – would be its agreement to set up a commission on social care funding.

The news follows warnings from think-tank the King’s Fund yesterday that social care funding reform could be “kicked into the long grass” because of the lack of consensus between the parties.

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