Social care crisis is 'a disgrace to a rich nation' says Labour's Keir Starmer

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has said he will hold the government to account on its promise to fix the social care system which he says is a “disgrace to a rich nation’.

Speaking at the Labour party’s virtual conference, Keir Starmer said empty promises about social care reform given by three Conservative prime ministers had meant “nothing has been done”.

Keir Starmer: "I want this to be the best country to grow old in.

"Our care workers are heroes but the social care system in Britain is a disgrace to a rich nation.

“The Tories have had a decade to sort it out, but they’ve done nothing. David Cameron promised he would fix it. Theresa May promised she would fix it.

"A year ago Boris Johnson promised he would fix it. Let’s hold them to that promise.

"This is a matter of basic fairness and human compassion. The Government needs to act and to act now.”

Keir Starmer also called for all social care workers to be paid “at least” the real living wage.

He said: “If we didn’t realise it already we’ve learnt that care workers do some of the most vital work in society.

"Yet they’re under-paid, under-recognised, and under-appreciated."

The Labour leader said of social care’s “abandonment” under Conservative rule, “That’s on their watch. That’s down to them.”