Much of the emphasis in the ‘how to solve the care problem’ debate has been on ‘PMI’, Protecting My Inheritance, those that have wanting to make sure they can pass on what they have to those that hope to have it. And virtually all care is now privatised to for-a-profit providers. So we descend into a mess of caps, subsidies, cross-subsidies which are likely to make claiming universal credit look a doddle. Alternatives? Looking north, Scandiwegians don’t have to think about it; but they pay more taxes. Looking south, your elderly relatives live with you and you look after them. Both systems work; but would, doubtless, make our comfortable lives less comfortable.
“Rachel Reeves may be forced to raise taxes”
Why did she/they (in the old sense) think that tinkering around with IHT and CGT would be enough to sort out the NHS; and the potholes; and…and the list goes on. My guess is that they asked the Treasury for a list of anything not involving income tax that they could get away with lightly, although they should already have learned from the winter fuel stuff that all publicity is not good publicity.