The government is under pressure to back a compulsory fee to pay for social care in England.
The government has been told to back a compulsory fee to pay for social care after holding a day of talks.
The Department of Health is currently hosting a meeting of charities, council chiefs and care providers in a bid to achieve a consensus on reforming care.
The meeting with charities, council chiefs and care providers agreed a levy was the best option for reform.
Representatives told the BBC ahead of the summit they wanted to see the levy brought in.
But the government refused to commit to the charge - dubbed a death tax by the Tories - saying it would publish its plans soon in a white paper.
The Tories have refused to take part, dubbing the levy a "death tax" and calling for a voluntary scheme instead.
The Tories said it was time for ministers to come up with a plan. They want to see a voluntary scheme instead.
The Liberal Democrats are attending the meeting, held at the Department of Health's London HQ, and have said they are open to the idea of a compulsory charge.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have said they are open to the idea of a compulsory charge.
Opening the talks, Health Secretary Andy Burnham said the issue was bigger than "any single political party".
The meeting, which was boycotted by the Tories, came after a fortnight of rows between the parties over the best way to reform the means-tested service.
It comes after a fortnight of rows between the parties over the best way to reform the means-tested service.
Last year, Labour set out a range of options in a green paper on how the system could be overhauled.
Government "age champion" Dame Joan Bakewell attacked politicians for "political point scoring" on the issue.
Last year, Labour set out a range of options in a Green Paper on how the system could be overhauled.
One of the suggestions was a compulsory fee, possibly up to £20,000, which could be taken from an individual's estate after death.
One of the suggestions was a compulsory fee, possibly up to £20,000, which could be taken from an individual's estate after death.
It is time for a serious debate. We believe a system that involves everyone is the only way to properly fund care Stephen Burke, of Counsel and Care
The Conservatives vehemently oppose this idea, claiming it would penalise families who want to look after elderly relatives themselves.
The Conservatives vehemently oppose this idea, claiming it would penalise families who want to look after elderly relatives themselves. They favour a voluntary scheme.
While there was a consensus in favour of the compulsory levy, ministers still refused to say whether they favoured it.
The issue has proved a major sticking point and caused secret talks between the three main parties to break down.
It is understood Health Secretary Andy Burnham is now considering whether it would be feasible to introduce the comprehensive system through a staged process.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham called Friday's conference.
This could involve a voluntary scheme to start with before a compulsory one was introduced once or if it had gained popular support.
But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley told GMTV that these talks were "a Labour Party political ploy".
A source involved in the talks said: "This would allow him to sell what is a controversial policy to the cabinet and then the electorate."
He added: "I will talk to anybody, anytime, anywhere, but I won't take part in a Labour party political smokescreen that stops people making progress and covers up the fact that they are pursuing the option of a compulsory death tax."
'Success'
In a letter to those taking part in the conference, Mr Burnham acknowledged that there were "pros and cons" to each funding proposal.
In a statement after the talks, Mr Burnham said the day had been a success.
"A voluntary option gives people more choice and control but will not cover everyone," he wrote.
"What people may not realise is that, for all the sound and fury of recent days, there is a good degree more consensus across political parties and the care world than people may realise.
"A compulsory option provides peace of mind and care free at the point of use when needed, but restricts choice."
"We now need to build on the points of agreement, and the recognition that leaving things as they are is not an option, to bring forward firm proposals for change."
Consensus
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We have been clear about our choices.
Dame Joan Bakewell, the government-appointed Voice of Older People, said no-one should expect to have a new policy "written in stone within a few weeks".
"But what are the Labour Party proposing? They plan a death tax in private but put up a smokescreen in public. The public have a right to a clear choice."
She added: "I think it's a very, very big issue indeed and it's going to take time to arrive at a consensus.
The newly-merged Age Concern and Help the Aged charity will now host another meeting in the next few weeks which the Tories have said they will attend.
"And this flurry of political point scoring is just getting in the way of it, because really the politicians need to listen more and do less sparring with each other."
David Rogers, of the Local Government Association, said: "We need to keep up the momentum for reform."
We don't need a political bun fight because then it will be put into the 'too difficult box' Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
Representatives told the BBC they will tell Mr Burnham he needs to be clearer about how a national care service would be funded.
David Rogers, of the Local Government Association, said: "We need much greater clarity over this. We don't want to see councils left to pick up the bill."
He said local authorities had already had to start restricting access to services because of a lack of funding to cope with the ageing population - three-quarters of councils now only provide help to the most in need.
His concerns were backed by an Audit Commission report this week, which said councils were facing a struggle as the £9bn-a-year bill for older people could double by 2026.
Mr Rogers said the LGA did not have a position on which of the models for reform it preferred - this reflects the fact the group has cross-party membership.
But others attending the conference said they were backing a compulsory charge.
Stephen Burke, of Counsel and Care, a charity for the elderly, said: "It is time for a serious debate. We believe a system that involves everyone is the only way to properly fund care."
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services also said a compulsory charge was the best way to get the most funding.
Its president, Jenny Owen, said: "The problem with a voluntary scheme is that too many people opt out.
"We now need to get consensus. We don't need a political bun fight because then it will be put into the 'too difficult box'."
The government is hoping to publish its preferred plan in a White Paper in March.
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