'Death tax' would hit 80,000 carers in region, say Tories

NEARLY 80,000 Yorkshire carers stand to be clobbered financially if Labour goes ahead with a "death tax" to pay for elderly care, the Tories claim.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley stoked the bitter row over the funding of social care by claiming carers would be unfairly penalised as the Government and Liberal Democrats prepared to attend an emergency conference on the future of care for the elderly which is being held today.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham organised today's event after secret talks with Mr Lansley and Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb broke up acrimoniously last week but the Tories have refused to take part unless Labour rules out compulsory insurance, which could see a levy of up to 20,000 payable upon death. Mr Lansley claimed that 700,000 carers across England – including 79,700 in Yorkshire – who spend more than 50 hours a week looking after elderly relatives themselves would suffer from the policy.

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He said it would create a "strong incentive" for families to push the burden of care onto the state which could create an estimated 3bn "black hole" in Government finances.

"Hundreds of thousands of silent heroes, who care for their own family, would be hit twice over," he said.

"They have spent years of their life caring for their loved ones but when that loved one passes away Labour's death tax would make them pay the state for care they never received."

Mr Burnham has dismissed the prospect of a flat-rate levy but the Conservatives have accused Ministers of looking at a 10 per cent estates tax on top of inheritance tax.

The reform proposals for social care have caused a bitter rift between the parties and the issue could become significant in the General Election campaign.