Tory rebels demand more cash for social care of the elderly

CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond is facing a damaging backbench rebellion unless he finds more cash to fund social care for the elderly.

Angry Tory MPs have threatened to side with Labour and vote to defeat the local government finance settlement today because of a failure to include the number of pensioners living in council areas in calculations to share out funding.

The Daily Express has learnt that up to 24 Tory MPs are willing to rebel on the issue, with many representing hard-pressed rural areas that have become popular retirement destinations.

Rebel leader Daniel Kawczynski has been holding urgent talks this week to try to strike an agreement.

The Shrewsbury MP, whose constituency is one of the UK’s most popular retirement locations, said: “It’s ridiculous. We have had six years of council tax freezes and it has put a big squeeze on their finances.

“The problem is that rural constituencies like mine are having to pick up an increasingly large bill for adult social care because so many people choose to retire there.”

Last night ministers made an offer of extra cash to help with funding for adult social care and the rural services delivery grant.

The money includes an extra £150million in 2018/19 for adult social care, along with £31million more for rural authorities.