Naturally Unnatural Issue #6 20th May 2017 | Page 3

Issue #2, 22 nd April
Conservatives target pensioners with social care policy
...continued from page 1
As previously mentioned the Conserva-
tives have pledged to get rid of winter
fuel allowance from rich pensioners, this
will kick up a fuss with the traditional
Conservative voter but is largely a token
gesture to dampen the blow on the sec-
ond policy. The wording is purposefully
misleading, to recap, the policy is to re-
move the upper limit on what people can
be expected to pay for their care. What
does this mean?
When you go into care if your capital is
worth £23,250 and above, you must pay
100% of your care fees. However, if your
Rising cost of elec-
tricity is a major fac-
tor in the rise of infla-
tion
capital is between £14,250 and £23,250 it
would mean you are entitled to assistance
with funding but the local authority will
consider this income, this is the same if
your capital is above the £23,250 thresh-
old but over time decreases below this. If
you are below the £14,250 then the local
authority will not take into the income
when deciding how much assistance you
need.
owners. The policy was only sustainable
through removing an overall cap of costs
payable by those who need care, mean-
ing private companies can charge what
they want, and reducing the value of es-
tates that can be passed on through in-
heritance.
It was reported that "the Conservatives
will attempt to soften the blow by promis-
ing that pensioners will not have to sell
their homes to pay for their care costs
The Conservative policy will raise the
while they or a surviving partner are
higher threshold to £100,000, but will also
alive. Instead, products will be available
include for the first time, the value of
allowing the elderly to pay by extracting
homes. If you have assets worth more
equity from their homes, which will be
than £100,000 then you will have to pay
recovered later when they die or sell
for care, which is the majority of home-
their residence".
pay around £115 less each year. Between
2008 – 2016 switching to A-rated fridge-
freezers, ditching incandescent bulbs
and switching to condensing boilers,
One of the main contributors to the rise in
found the average household save £290.
inflation, is the rising cost of electricity.
Plus, the increase in the cost of clothing,
Fitting energy efficiency measures is rel-
Energy costs, in particular car tax and air fares are to blame for the atively cheap, however, the Conserva-
highest rise of inflation in 3 and a half
tives have largely failed or cut funding for
electricity has played a
years.
energy efficiency programmes. This is
major role in the increase
major contributor to rise in energy costs.
The rising cost of electricity and energy
Whomever is installed as the next Prime
of inflation to its highest
is down to the Big 6 energy companies
level in 3 and a half years, holding 84% of the market despite appar- Minister, they will need to focus bringing
the prices of energy down. Investment
with higher increases ex- ent competition. The sector needs an in- into the renewable sector, increase the
crease in competition and publicly ac-
availability of publicly accountable com-
pected over the summer.
countable companies. Those within the
panies, the best example is Nottingham’s
sector warned that the cap will decrease
By Matthew Clifton
Robin Hood Energy, which is cheaper
profits for the Big 6 and will lead to job
than the Big 6 on average.
losses and increase the prices for con-
Today has seen inflation rise to 2.7%,
sumers. However, this has been dis-
They are a not-for-profit energy company
exceeding the Bank of England (BoE)
run by Nottingham city council and were
missed by most experts and even the
forecasts of 2.6 and has increased
launched in 2015, the first nationalised
Conservatives acknowledge prices are
drastically compared to the previous
energy company since 1948. The next
month of 2.3. But what are the reasons exuberant.
government must focus on training peo-
that this could’ve happened and what
Unfortunately, a cap would only be tem-
ple within the sector, particularly as the
does this mean? The rise of inflation
Conservatives plan to push forward with
porary and once it ends, prices will rise
means the cost of goods will increase.
the reduction of immigration below
again and return to the status quo. The
The BoE last week previously forecast
100,000. Focus more funding on innova-
only real long-term solution to energy
that inflation would peak at 2.7% in the
prices is to invest in innovation and tech- tion within the renewable sector and in
technology to improve efficiency.
summer, however, the Office of Na-
nology. Industry leaders admit that ener-
tional Statistics said that producer out-
gy efficiency is the reason why people
put price inflation was above 3% and
would likely to increase over the sum-
mer.
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