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Andy Burnham suggests new social care tax | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Labour should ignore "difficult headlines" and consider extra taxes to cover the rising cost of social care, leadership contender Andy Burnham says. | |
Mr Burnham says his goal of a National Health and Care service will require a "difficult financial change". | |
But in a speech in Leeds, he will say Labour should not fear a backlash from the "Tory press". | |
He would create a commission which would also consider replacing tuition fees with a graduate tax system. | |
Mr Burnham's speech, marking the 70th anniversary of the Attlee Labour government, is seen as an effort to get back on the front foot in the leadership contest. | |
It also includes a scathing criticism of the current Labour Party, which he will accuse of being "frightened of its own shadow". | |
The Leigh MP will say the anniversary of the 1945 government should be "cause for joyous celebration, but I mark it with a sad realisation that the modern Labour Party could not have created the NHS". | |
'Backed off' | |
Councils have predicted a £4.3bn shortfall in care budgets - including residential care and help at home - by the end of the decade. | |
To plug the gap, Mr Burnham will say social care should be treated like the NHS, "where everybody is asked to make a contribution according to their means". | |
He will say: "And yes, let me be clear: I would have to persuade people of a difficult financial change to bring this about. | |
"And this is where the modern Labour Party has always backed off, fearing difficult headlines in the Tory press." | |
His new commission will consider ways to cover the costs of social care, including a new "care levy". | |
It will also look at ways to get people onto the housing ladder. | |
Labour leadership contest | |
At-a-glance profiles of the four contenders | |
Mr Burnham's speech comes as a poll for the Independent suggests Labour is less electable now than under Ed Miliband. | |
And an analysis by the Labour-affiliated Fabian Society says the party must broaden its appeal to Conservative voters, rather than "lurching to the left", if it is to have "any chance" of winning in 2020. | |
Mr Miliband led Labour to its worst electoral defeat since the 1980s, with the party down to 232 seats at the 2015 general election. | Mr Miliband led Labour to its worst electoral defeat since the 1980s, with the party down to 232 seats at the 2015 general election. |
His subsequent resignation sparked the leadership contest, with Mr Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall all in the running to succeed him. | His subsequent resignation sparked the leadership contest, with Mr Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall all in the running to succeed him. |
The popularity of left-winger Mr Corbyn, who only got into the contest because some MPs nominated him to "broaden the debate", has sparked a row within Labour. | The popularity of left-winger Mr Corbyn, who only got into the contest because some MPs nominated him to "broaden the debate", has sparked a row within Labour. |
Some MPs have called for the contest to be restarted after "hard left" campaigners and Conservative supporters were reported to be backing him, and with one poll suggesting he was on course to win. | Some MPs have called for the contest to be restarted after "hard left" campaigners and Conservative supporters were reported to be backing him, and with one poll suggesting he was on course to win. |