Social care commitment needed from Labour and Tories says Lamb

12.12.00am GMT Thu 11th Mar 2010

Commenting following today’s cross party Age UK, at which the health spokespeople of the three main parties met to discuss the reform of social care, Norman Lamb said:

“It’s clear from today’s social care summit that voters want politicians to come together and solve one of the biggest social challenges facing our country.

“We need long-term solutions to this problem so that older people are treated with the respect they deserve. We cannot continue with the current system where people have to sell their homes to pay for care and the quality of care on offer is not up to scratch.

“There was broad agreement that solving the crisis in social care is going to require a partnership between the state and individuals and if the other parties are willing then there is no reason why the current differences in opinion should be insurmountable.

“Liberal Democrats want to put an end to the political bickering. We are willing to work with the other parties to solve this problem once and for all. There should be no preconditions and we are open to all ideas that seek a solution that will be fair, affordable and sustainable.

“Rather than shouting at each other let’s have a commitment from all three parties to start finding a solution now.”