Lib Dems announce plans to ‘shelve’ personal care funding

Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg has announce that, if elected, his party will drop plans to provide free personal care for the elderly. They had previously announced a £2.8 billion budget allocation for personal care. The Lib Dems will also look to reduce budgets in many other areas, in an attempt to reduce public spending by £18 billion in light of the current economic climate. The announcement has angered charities and organisations that campaign on behalf of the elderly. Head of Public Policy for Age Concern and Help the Aged Nick Harrop comments: ‘The Liberal Democrats need to produce credible proposals for reforming the care and support system; otherwise many older people and their families will feel let down by today’s announcement. They mustn’t drop the commitment to radically reform the current system.’

Tags: Age Concern, Help the Aged