Andy Burnham is well qualified to speak on the subject of what can go wrong with social care policy. As health secretary in 2010, he proposed reforms to be funded by a 10% inheritance levy. This was called a “death tax” by the opposition. It was never introduced.
Where Mr Burnham failed, none have subsequently succeeded. David Cameron accepted the recommendations of the 2011 Dilnot commission, which proposed a cap on the amount any individual would pay for care, but the cost to the exchequer thwarted implementation. Theresa May suggested plugging the money gap with a revised means test and no individual cap. This was branded a “dementia tax” by opponents and never saw the light of day.
