Tory leadership rivals Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have been urged to tackle crisis-hit social care as a charity boss warns the system is “at breaking point”.
Mencap chief executive Edel Harris called on the Conservative No10 candidates to “commit to the necessary funding” to ease pressure on the sector.
Writing exclusively for the Mirror and backing our Fair Care for All campaign, she says that pumping in more cash “can help to unlock the potential of people with a learning disability across the country”.
Ms Harris warns: “Only bold, decisive action will help the next Prime Minister to succeed where others have failed so that social care gets the recognition, funding and commitment from government that it deserves.
“Liz and Rishi - people with a learning disability are looking to you.
“Please don’t let them down.”
When he became PM in July 2019, Boris Johnson claimed he had “a clear plan prepared” which “will fix the crisis in social care once and for all”.
But when ministers finally published their blueprint last December, it was blasted for failing to deliver long-term proposals for ending the crisis.
The health and social care levy hike in national insurance is also under threat, with Downing Street leadership race favourite Ms Truss vowing to reverse the tax rise.
Funds generated are being injected into the NHS but are due to be transferred to social care when the coronavirus backlog in health treatment has been eroded.
The Mirror’s Fair Care for All campaign demands the creation of a National Care Service to run alongside the NHS, the appointment of minister for the elderly and a properly-funded care system that works for everyone.
The campaign also calls for a fair deal for care workers.
We want an end to home visits of 15 minutes or less, an increase in the allowance for unpaid carers and for carers to be paid the Real Living Wage.
Earlier this year, the Mirror told how a study of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings revealed 30.2% of jobs in England’s care sector are paid below the Real Living Wage.
The figure was 25.4% in Wales and 10.3%in Scotland.
Broken down regionally, it meant 42.3% of carers in London were denied the Real Living Wage, 37.3% in the West Midlands and 33.1% in the North West.
The rate paid by organisations accredited with the Living Wage Foundation is £9.90 an hour, rising to £11.05 in London.
In contrast, the legal minimum rate for over-25s across the UK is £9.50 through the National Living Wage.
Asked about Mencap's call, Mr Sunak told the Mirror: “I know how important sorting out our social care system is - that’s why I took the decision to introduce the social care levy to help fund this crucial piece of national infrastructure.
“Whilst not politically convenient, I knew it was the right thing to do for the country.
“As Prime Minister, I will continue to take the tough decisions in the national interest.”
Ms Truss’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
