Desmond Swayne

Desmond Swayne argues that creating a National Care Service integrated with the NHS could cost around £18 billion annually and would be difficult to finance amid high taxes and borrowing costs. He highlights staffing shortages, inadequate care-sector funding and the burden placed on people whose assets exceed the means-tested threshold. Swayne defends using homeowners' assets to help pay for residential care and argues that families should not expect to inherit property free of care costs. He supports the previously legislated Dilnot plan, which would have capped individual care fees at £80,000 before taxpayers assumed the remaining costs, and criticises its repeal under Theresa May.

A dispute erupted in the House of Commons after the government cancelled an Opposition Day to avoid a debate that would have required the new prime minister to deliver a statement before the summer recess. Ministers replaced the session with a debate on the Middle East, prompting accusations of avoiding scrutiny. The reaction in the chamber highlighted government unease, with criticism focusing on efforts to delay parliamentary questioning of the prime minister for six weeks.