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   Joan Bakewell attacks 'shameful' political row over elderly care plans
The Government's ageism tsar accused the Tories today of "telling lies" over plans for elderly care - but blamed Gordon Brown for turning the issue into a political "circus". Broadcaster and writer Dame Joan Bakewell, who was appointed as an independent "champion" for older people in 2008, described the Westminster row as "shameful". Parties have been embroiled in furious exchanges over how to fund care for England's ageing population, with the Tories using a poster to warn of a £20,000 "death tax". But it emerged this week that the attack followed the breakdown of cross-party talks, held without the knowledge of party leaders, which had been close to securing consensus. "It's highly regrettable that political interests have stepped in where a really serious issue was being discussed by serious men with the interests of older people at heart," Dame Joan told BBC Radio 4's The World at One. "The fact that it has become a political circus is shameful," In a strongly-worded attack on the Conservatives' "grotesque" poster, she said: "We have had a lot of pious talk lately about how we must salvage the reputation of Parliament because of the expenses scandal. "But the scandal is still going on because people are telling lies: that poster, that Gordon Brown wants £20,000 when you die, is merely one of a series of options being put forward as a way of stopping people having to sell their houses. "To turn it into this grotesque poster is an insult to everybody and it damages the case for older people and their serious care." But she also turned her fire on the Prime Minister, who used his Labour Party conference speech in September to promise to make personal care free for those with the most critical needs. "The problem is that Gordon Brown pre-empted very sensible policy that was introduced in a Green Paper in July and put out to consultation. "In order to have something to offer conference, Gordon invented this new Bill ... which rather prejudged all the thoughtful developments that were going forward. "When politics cuts across policy you are into a confrontational situation and not a consensual situation. It is deplorable because what the country needs is solutions not wars between parties." However, Dame Joan also warned that no funding solution would be found that kept everyone happy. "Whatever solution is arrived at will leave people unhappy. There will be division about it and there certainly is a huge lack of money to pay for it and attempts to do so will involve costs which people will resent so there is a lot of trouble ahead." Source: 24dash.com Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. Becoming a member of SalfordOnline only takes a minute, just hit the red Join Us button at the top right hand side of the page to create your Personal account. Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
