Alliance Party call for free personal care highly irresponsible

John McCallister MLA, Ulster Unionist Party Spokesperson for Health Social Services and Public Safety has accused Kieran McCarthy of joining Gordon Brown in a bout of scurrilous political opportunism as the Alliance Party called for free personal care to be introduced in Northern Ireland.

In a statement Mr. McCallister said:

"In Northern Ireland we are quickly learning that there are some parties who are prepared to deal responsibly in real politics based on the facts as they exist. There are other parties who are intent on only scoring cheap political points. Kieran McCarthy has once again proven today that the Alliance Party, like the Labour Party, are not a Party fit for Government.

"In calling for free personal care Mr. McCarthy has ignored the economic and fiscal reality that the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland are facing. We presently have a £370 million deficit in our budget for next year alone and come the new Comprehensive Spending Review this situation is only going to get worse. The existing inadequate Health Budget is stretched to its absolute limit and to call for free personal care for all under these circumstances is highly irresponsible.

"The proposal for free personal care in England has been called irresponsible and unaffordable not only by other political parties but by Labour MPs and Lords. For example Lord Lipsey a former member fo the Royal Commission on Long Term Care stated today:

"I'm not looking forward to the night of the next general election but, if the result goes as I expect, one of the consolations will be that one of the most irresponsible acts to be put forward by a prime minister in the recent history of this country will be swept away with his government."

" This should have sent warning signals to the Alliance Party " .

"It has also been claimed that introducing free peronal care in England could rob pensioners of two benefits that support some 2.4million people to the tune of some £8billion. Is this scenario now Alliance Party policy?

"Only last week at one of the Assembly Road Shows Kirean McCarthy was supporting calls for the VAT rate to be kept at 15% in Northern Ireland. Kieran appears to be playing monopoly as this further illustrates his comittment to reckless populism over responsible government".

"Whilst the Ulster Unionist Party is committed to free personal care it is at present unaffordable. For the Alliance Party to ignore this is a disgraceful deciept".