Amber Rudd and Michael Fallon refuse to give details of ‘dementia tax’ cap amid reports of chaos in PM’s inner circle
The Lib Dems have suggested up to half the value of the average family home could be wiped out by the social care policy
SENIOR Tories refused to rule out a social care cap of up to £300,000 yesterday following a reported bust up in the PM’s circle over the policy.
It came as the Lib Dems claimed up to half the value of a family home could be wiped out by the so called “dementia tax”.
Before the U-turn, the PM’s flagship old age care policy would have seen people facing unlimited costs until they were down to their last £100,000 of assets - including the value of their home.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “The Prime Minister has said yes, there will be a cap ... But we are not sure where the cap will be.
“What we are saying is we will have a green paper to make sure that we set it at the right level and we consider all the other alternatives.”
Yesterday Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon shrugged off reports the Tories were in disarray over the controversial plans as “Westminster tittle tattle”.
He told ITV’s Peston On Sunday: “No, this is Theresa May leading our party.
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“We’ve put into the policy now some additional reassurance because of the scaremongering of Labour after the manifesto was published, further reassurance that people will not lose their home, they will not lose all of their savings.
“But yes, some people will be asked to make a contribution to raising the quality of social care.”
The Lib Dems health spokesman Norman Lamb said the “dementia tax” put up to half the value of the average family home at risk.
He accused the PM of “showing contempt for vulnerable older people who have developed a condition like dementia through no fault of their own.”