Labour accuse Pickles of breaking promise over elderly care

By The Press Association16th March 2015News EnglandLocal Authorities, News England, Older People

Labour has accused Communities Secretary Eric Pickles of breaking his promise to the elderly and failing to stand up for local government.

Hilary Benn, his opposite number, said the Tory frontbencher confirmed in 2010 that councils would receive sufficient resources to protect access to adult social care.

But spending on the sector had been cut, according to the National Audit Office, most of all in areas of greatest need, which have also seen the biggest reductions in Government funding.

He asked: “Isn’t the truth that you … have broken your promise to the elderly people of England?

“And that it has happened because in the last five years you have taken decisions about funding that have been unfair to councils and because, as many councils – of all parties – think, you have failed to stand up for local government?”

Mr Pickles hit back, saying Mr Benn did not have a leg to stand on, given his party’s promise of £52 billion-worth of cuts to local authorities.

He said: “I have to say to you, it is this coalition that has worked hard to protect the elderly, it is this coalition that has worked hard to improve better care.

“My desk is full of requests coming in from Labour councillors demanding we should cease exemption for elderly people on council tax relief and the like.

“So frankly, you proposing yourself as a friend of the elderly is absolutely ludicrous.”

Earlier, Mr Benn criticised David Cameron, claiming he had gone back on a promise in 2010 not to cut frontline services.

He said: “Before the last election, the then-leader of the opposition said, and I quote, ‘Any cabinet member who comes to me and says here are my plans and they involve frontline reductions would be sent back to their department to go away and think again’.

“And yet we now know the social care front line has been cut, including the simple act of giving a hot meal to elderly people living at home alone.

“220,000 fewer elderly people are now receiving meals on wheels compared to 2010 when that promise was made.

“Why is this?”

Mr Pickles said it was up to individual councils to defend their own decisions.

He said: “What we have done is to try and ensure with the Better Care Fund a better coordination between medical care and social care, including domiciliary care.”

Mr Benn replied: “I think that was an overly firm denial of your responsibility for what has gone on.”