A new 10% death tax on every estate is being considered by the government as a way of funding care for the elderly, it was claimed last night.
The Conservatives say ministers have been secretly gauging public support for the levy to pay for free care for every pensioner who needs it.
The suggestion was dismissed as black propaganda by Labour last night, which accused the Tories of putting political point-scoring ahead of finding a solution to the plight of vulnerable pensioners faced with crippling care bills.
Andy Burnham, the health secretary, threw down the gauntlet to his opposite number, Andrew Lansley, demanding he tear down Tory posters that feature gravestones and a separate claim that Labour wants to impose a ?20,000 death tax on everyone.
In a manoeuvre designed to force Lansley?s hand, Burnham is to convene an emergency national conference on care for the elderly this week involving every main charity and quango affected by the problem, to which the shadow health secretary will be invited only if he complies.
Lansley?s absence from the summit could severely damage the Tories? relationship with the organisations and undermine their claim to be committed to reforming the system.
Burnham said: ?If the posters come down, and they call off their campaign on the doorsteps, the Tories can join this convention. But if they don?t, they?ll be excluded. Either they?re in this debate or they?re not. It?s far too important to reduce to scare tactics.?
Burnham also claimed that during secret cross-party talks on the care crisis, Lansley refused to promise that the Conservatives would introduce legislation to reform the system if they won the election.
?I wanted every party to commit to a bill, regardless of who wins the election. He didn?t seem able to,? the health secretary said.
Claims that the government is secretly planning a 10% tax on estates were prompted by evidence that market researchers Ipsos Mori has been polling voters on the issue.
Householders were telephoned and asked whether they would be in favour of a system of social care that was free for all if they were taxed 10% of their estate when they died. The interviewer gave an example of a ?500,000 estate, from which the taxman would take ?50,000. Respondents were also asked if they knew any old people receiving social care.
The Department of Health repeatedly refused to confirm or deny that it had commissioned the research, fuelling speculation that the government was behind it.
It is not clear whether the levy would be charged only on estates above the inheritance tax threshold of ?325,000 or would be applied to every individual whatever the value of their estate.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Burnham refused to comment on options being considered for funding care for the elderly, insisting a consensus was first needed on how to reform the system.
He labelled the current system, under which elderly people are helped with costs as ?unfair?, ?random? and ?inadequate?. At present, eligibility for help varies widely among local authorities.
He said: ?We cannot go on like this. Some people are having to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds for their care. It is outrageous that someone with Alzheimer?s who gets wiped out physically, mentally and emotionally should also get wiped out financially.?
The debate over care for the elderly exploded last week when it emerged that Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems were holding secret talks in the hope of agreeing a solution.
The talks collapsed amid bitter recrimination when the Tories unveiled the poster claiming Labour was planning a ?20,000 death tax on every individual. The slogan was based on one option mentioned among several in a government green paper on the issue.
The poster incensed Labour, with Lord Mandelson describing it as ?contemptible behaviour?. Labour claims that Tory parliamentary candidates are spreading misinformation about its plans on the doorstep.
Burnham said the episode had seriously undermined his trust in Lansley. He added: ?My instinct is that he has forfeited his right to be part of the debate, but it is the right thing to do to invite him, if he is prepared to meet the terms.?
Labour in ‘secret 10% death tax plan’ - Times Online
If I'm dead why penalise my kids? My kids will have to pay a tax on me dying. How is that fair?
What the ~~~~ is this country turning into when the so-called leaders are coming out with this shit?
The Conservatives say ministers have been secretly gauging public support for the levy to pay for free care for every pensioner who needs it.
The suggestion was dismissed as black propaganda by Labour last night, which accused the Tories of putting political point-scoring ahead of finding a solution to the plight of vulnerable pensioners faced with crippling care bills.
Andy Burnham, the health secretary, threw down the gauntlet to his opposite number, Andrew Lansley, demanding he tear down Tory posters that feature gravestones and a separate claim that Labour wants to impose a ?20,000 death tax on everyone.
In a manoeuvre designed to force Lansley?s hand, Burnham is to convene an emergency national conference on care for the elderly this week involving every main charity and quango affected by the problem, to which the shadow health secretary will be invited only if he complies.
Lansley?s absence from the summit could severely damage the Tories? relationship with the organisations and undermine their claim to be committed to reforming the system.
Burnham said: ?If the posters come down, and they call off their campaign on the doorsteps, the Tories can join this convention. But if they don?t, they?ll be excluded. Either they?re in this debate or they?re not. It?s far too important to reduce to scare tactics.?
Burnham also claimed that during secret cross-party talks on the care crisis, Lansley refused to promise that the Conservatives would introduce legislation to reform the system if they won the election.
?I wanted every party to commit to a bill, regardless of who wins the election. He didn?t seem able to,? the health secretary said.
Claims that the government is secretly planning a 10% tax on estates were prompted by evidence that market researchers Ipsos Mori has been polling voters on the issue.
Householders were telephoned and asked whether they would be in favour of a system of social care that was free for all if they were taxed 10% of their estate when they died. The interviewer gave an example of a ?500,000 estate, from which the taxman would take ?50,000. Respondents were also asked if they knew any old people receiving social care.
The Department of Health repeatedly refused to confirm or deny that it had commissioned the research, fuelling speculation that the government was behind it.
It is not clear whether the levy would be charged only on estates above the inheritance tax threshold of ?325,000 or would be applied to every individual whatever the value of their estate.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Burnham refused to comment on options being considered for funding care for the elderly, insisting a consensus was first needed on how to reform the system.
He labelled the current system, under which elderly people are helped with costs as ?unfair?, ?random? and ?inadequate?. At present, eligibility for help varies widely among local authorities.
He said: ?We cannot go on like this. Some people are having to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds for their care. It is outrageous that someone with Alzheimer?s who gets wiped out physically, mentally and emotionally should also get wiped out financially.?
The debate over care for the elderly exploded last week when it emerged that Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems were holding secret talks in the hope of agreeing a solution.
The talks collapsed amid bitter recrimination when the Tories unveiled the poster claiming Labour was planning a ?20,000 death tax on every individual. The slogan was based on one option mentioned among several in a government green paper on the issue.
The poster incensed Labour, with Lord Mandelson describing it as ?contemptible behaviour?. Labour claims that Tory parliamentary candidates are spreading misinformation about its plans on the doorstep.
Burnham said the episode had seriously undermined his trust in Lansley. He added: ?My instinct is that he has forfeited his right to be part of the debate, but it is the right thing to do to invite him, if he is prepared to meet the terms.?
Labour in ‘secret 10% death tax plan’ - Times Online
If I'm dead why penalise my kids? My kids will have to pay a tax on me dying. How is that fair?
What the ~~~~ is this country turning into when the so-called leaders are coming out with this shit?