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Speaking to Radio 4 Mr Burnham stood by a plan earmarked when he was Health Secretary under former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown which at the time was branded a ‘death tax’. The tax would see Britons taxed on their estates to pay for social care but was met with fierce opposition as it would mean pensioners having to shell out 10 percent of their wealth to cover their own social care. Mr Burnham continued to stand by the idea as well as suggesting a full tax assault which would see income tax, capital gains tax and wealth taxes ramped up to pay for social care in what he branded was an NHS-style system to pay for social care of the future. He insisted this solution was “fairer” and insisted it was the best way forward which meant everyone contributes.
He said: “I would have asked all pensioners to make a contribution – 10 percent of their estate.
“That would be to introduce the NHS principal to social care.
“Because everybody would be required to contribute but then everybody would benefit and no-one would have the threat of being unable to pay.”
He insisted that deal is superior to the deal Mr Johnson is currently working on this week.
He explained: “For the vast majority of people they would get peace of mind at a much lower cost.
“I don’t see how you can do this without asking pensioners to make a contribution! Failing to do that in my view is to come up with a flawed solution that won’t stand the test go time.”
He added: “I would look at wealth taxes, I would look at raising the threshold for capital gains tax. There is a case to make more contributions from income tax, particularly a higher rate.
“Together that could make up this shortfall.”
More to follow…
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