Slanging match over 'death tax' claims

The row over reform of care for the elderly escalated yesterday as Labour and the Tories accused each other of sabotaging attempts to reach a cross-party consensus.

After appeals from charities for an end to the political mud-slinging, Health Secretary Andy Burnham called a non-partisan care conference to tackle the issue this week.

But his invitation to the Tories to take part was spurned by Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who accused Labour of considering a 10 per cent death duty on estates to pay for care.

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Mr Burnham hit back that the Tories were spreading “scare stories”.

A television debate featuring the two men descended into claim, counter-claim and recriminations over the failure of cross-party talks on elderly care.

The Health Secretary sidestepped claims that he had confronted Mr Lansley in the Commons last week and accused his Tory counterpart of having “bloody shafted” him.

“Well, I’m trying to keep my temper here,” he said, when asked about it on BBC1’s The Politics Show.

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The row erupted last week when it was reported the Government was strongly considering a 20,000 compulsory death duty to pay for universal care for the elderly.

Labour was furious when the Tories subsequently put up posters around the country featuring a gravestone with the slogan “RIP off”.

Mr Burnham has dismissed the possibility of a “flat rate” levy but admits that he is considering a compulsory arrangement.

The Tories accused Ministers of looking at a 10 per cent levy on estates, on top of any inheritance tax liabilities, upon death.

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But Mr Burnham insisted: “There are no decisions taken on this issue. We’ve got options on the table, we need to explore those options.”

He added that the Tories’ “negative campaigning” went beyond the “RIP Off” poster.

“There are negative, nasty campaigns being run on doorsteps up and down the country on benefit reform.

“People are being scared on issues to do with benefits by Andrew and the Conservatives.”

Charities including Age Concern, the Alzheimer’s Society and Macmillan Cancer Support urged the parties not to reduce the issue to soundbites and slogans.