Starmer says Labour will not back plan to raise national insurance to fund social care – live

Labour leader Keir Starmer has confirmed his party will not back a plan to raise national insurance in order to pay for social care, with Jeremy Corbyn saying it would be “unfair” on working people.

Labour’s official position is that the government should fund any extra money needed by councils through general taxation rather than asking older and disabled adults who need help getting dressed or eating their meals because they are living longer at home without adequate support.

Labour will not back a plan to raise national insurance in order to fund social care, the shadow chancellor has said. John McDonnell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he could see no reason for raising NI and accused Theresa May of having “no mandate” for such a move given her decision not go ahead with a general election last month.
There is no need or requirement from our perspective [to increase National Insurance], there was mention at one stage by some people about funding adult social care through an insurance levy but it doesn’t look like they’re going ahead with that now,” Mr MacDonnel added on Monday morning when asked whether Labour would support the idea if the Conservatives went forward with it.”We don’t think we should be increasing taxation on