GENERAL ELECTION: Social care leaders respond to decisive Conservatives victory

Social care leaders have been quick to respond to the Conservatives decisive victory in yesterday’s General Election.

With 649 of the 650 seats declared, the Tories have a Commons majority of 78, providing a decisive mandate for Boris Johnson’s agenda.

Professor Martin Green OBE, CEO of Care England, (pictured) said: “We now have a new government with a strong Parliamentary majority and we hope that they will act decisively to give a clear vision for social care, identify how it will be funded, and have a strategy to recruit and train our workforce. We do not need any more analysis, what we expect from the government is action.”

Nadra Ahmed OBE, executive chair of the National Care Association, added: “There is no excuse now for the government not to bring forward their plans for stabilising social care through strategic investment to make it sustainable and fit for the future. The public have put their trust in Mr Johnson so he must repay them with action not words. Any delay in tackling the challenges will be a clear breach of intention.”

Others noted the Prime Minister’s pledge to hold cross-party talks within its first 100 days of the new government.

Vic Rayner, executive director of the National Care Forum, who also noted the lack of detail in the Tories’ manifesto on how they intended to “fix social care”, said the clock was clicking on finding a solution.

Steven Cameron, Pensions Director at Aegon, called on the government to recognise the Labour Party’s commitment to introduce free personal care and cap contributions at £100,000. Mr Cameron said the government should also note the Liberal Democrats’ idea for a ring-fenced health and social care tax.

Dr Rhidian Hughes, VODG chief executive, said: “High quality support services for disabled people can be transformative. Now is the time to find solutions that enable older and disabled people to have full choice and control over their lives. We stand ready to help policy makers achieve this vision.”

Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group (ICG), called on the Prime Minister to make social care his number one priority.

The ICG has issued an election manifesto calling on the government calling for a minimum agreed level of care fees, better funding of social care through taxation or National Insurance and its merger with the NHS.