Campaigners have condemned Andy Burnham's promise to create a National Care Service as a "mirage", accusing the Prime Minister of delaying urgently needed reforms until 2030. The criticism came as nearly 300,000 people signed a petition demanding that the Prime Minister reverse plans to axe the state pension triple lock.
Mr Burnham has claimed that changes to the pensions policy are needed in order to fund his proposals. Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said: "Andy Burnham is scrapping the triple lock for a pig in a poke social care plan, which began to unravel as soon as the standing ovation at Labour Party Conference died down."
Waiting list deaths
The campaign group has been calling for the Government to take immediate action to end long waiting lists for older people requiring social care. Last year, 30,000 people died while they waited for care that never arrived.
In a paper, the group pointed out that Mr Burnham had promised a system "free at the point of use", but it later emerged that he was considering a system similar to Scotland, where people in care can still face huge bills.
Pensioner poverty warning
Mr Burnham's plan to axe the state pension triple lock, so that it rises by at least the rate of inflation or 2.5%, but is no longer guaranteed to increase with average earnings, would drive pensioners into poverty, said Silver Voices.
The paper said: "The Government has decided that, apart from the symbolic move to punish today's pensioners by scrapping the triple lock, they are going to duck other funding mechanisms to resolve the social care crisis."
But axing the pension guarantee "is selective, unfair and won't raise anywhere near the funding required for a National Care Service", the group said.
Delays and petition
It called for immediate action to give older people the care they need, warning that Mr Burnham's plan could take 10 years. The paper said: "Any proposals for radical reform will depend on the outcome of a general election, then any new Government will reconsider them, and if we see legislation at all, implementation will stretch over a period of years."
Mr Reed said: "Andy Burnham is increasing pensioner poverty for a mirage of free social care, which will never materialise under him, and he knows it."
A Silver Voices petition demanding that the Government rethink plans to axe the triple lock has been signed by 291,000 people.
Labour insists it is adjusting rather than axing the triple lock. While no change would come into force before a general election, Mr Burnham is thought to be planning to introduce legislation before a poll, which could later be implemented.
Speaking at his party's conference, Mr Burnham said: "This is the deal. A state pension that rises every year. No care charges. And a high-quality National Care Service to give peace of mind in later life."
