“Lots of these workers are not from Britain,…”
Quite true, Mikey. And increasingly, lots of the residents are not from Britain either.
Many of the workers who are “not from Britain” are from outside the EU. So their future will not be affected in any way by Brexit. If you believe that, following its departure from the EU, the UK will expel such workers who are from the EU but retain those from outside the EU you are suffering a bad attack of post-referendum hysteria and you should see your GP immediately (provided you can get an appointment). Those people employed in the care industry who are from other EU countries are about as likely as I am to be forced to leave the country whatever “deal” is struck following A50.
“Linda, I am not sure that diverting money from the foreign aid budget would provide enough for what is needed to keep up support for the elderly.”
In the report council bosses are quoted as saying they need about £1.3bn to plug the gap – about 10% of the Foreign Aid (sorry, “development”) budget. There are about 26 million households in the UK. If each was charged £80 (the most popular figure I have seen bandied about) this would raise a little over £2bn (provided everybody paid, of course, which is nowhere near the truth).
Elderly Care should not be funded or provided by local authorities. Firstly there is the funding issue. Almost 80% of local authority income comes from central government. The control of this vast sum is vested in a few local busybodies who have too much time on their hands. Like education, the service should be fully funded and controlled by central government. Secondly (again like education) there is no earthly reason why the standard of care should vary according to where you live. Thirdly, even though it accounts for just 20% of revenue, Council Tax is an iniquitous levy which takes no account of income or ability to pay. To increase it to fund this service will simply mean that those who pay it (i.e. the “rich” who include widows who happen to have chosen to remain in the family home and who live, perhaps on a fairly low fixed income) will fund the care – and be unlikely to qualify for it if they need it). Meanwhile others who, for various reasons pay little or no Council Tax will pay no extra towards it but will be first in the queue should they need the facilities.
The funds should come from central taxation to be shared by all who pay tax. For all their faults, income tax, NI and the various indirect taxes are a good bit more fair than Council Tax will ever be. Where the sum comes from should be a matter for government but there should be no consideration of raising overall taxes whilst huge sums are squandered abroad.