Ed Davey: Social care is “elephant in the NHS waiting room”

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Responding to the Autumn Budget, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

"I worry that the Government is still ignoring the elephant in the NHS waiting room: the crisis in social care. I urge the Government to end the dither and delay and begin cross-party talks on social care now.

“I’m glad that the Chancellor has listened to Liberal Democrat calls for more investment in the NHS to start repairing all the damage done to local health services by the Conservatives. We will now hold the government to account on delivering its promises so people can see a GP or dentist when they need to."

On the government’s increase to employers’ National Insurance, Davey added:

“It is very concerning to see the Chancellor repeat a number of the Conservatives’ mistakes today. Raising employer’s National Insurance is a tax on jobs and high streets, and it will make the health and care crisis worse by hitting thousands of small care providers.

“Instead of raising the money we need by reversing Conservative tax cuts for the big banks, or asking the social media and tech giants to pay a bit more, the Chancellor has chosen unfair tax hikes that will hurt the hard-working families, small businesses and family farms that are the engines of our economy.”

ENDS