Politicians warned over elderly care
Elderly and frail people will suffer unless the three major political parties can get together to agree on care reforms, an alliance of organisations has warned.
In an open letter to David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband, the group of charities, think-tanks and councils said "delay is no longer an option".
Signed by chiefs from public and private sector organisations including the charity Age UK, the Local Government Organisation and Bupa, it urged the leaders to reach a consensus on a system that is reaching "breaking point".
The letter published in the Daily Telegraph said: "The reform of funding for older people's long-term care and for younger people with disabilities remains one of the most difficult and challenging policy issues confronting England.
"For over a decade, governments of all colours have struggled to agree an answer.
"But delay is no longer an option. As a number of recent reports have highlighted, the increased pressure on public finances is pushing an already over-burdened system to breaking point."
Chris Huhne is under investigation by the Electoral Commission who said it had started a review after receiving an allegation about the energy secretary's 2010 general election expenses.
The investigation comes as the Lib Dem cabinet minister has endured weeks of headlines in the press over allegations that he illegally got his ex-wife to accept penalty points for speeding to avoid a driving ban himself.
The commission said: "Following an initial assessment of the information, we have now started a case review into the matter. The review will look to establish the facts of the case, firstly for the purposes of transparency and also for possible future guidance."
Labour has lost its poll lead over the Conservatives according to a survey by the Independent. The ComRes poll puts both parties on 37 per cent. The Liberal Democrats are on 12 per cent.
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