Labour leadership contender Jess Phillips has called for the rich to “chip in” more taxes to fund the social care crisis.
The backbencher said it was time to stop “pussyfooting or pretending” about the scale of funding solving the problem would require.
Ms Phillips, who has pledged to confront the Labour party awkward truths after its devastating election defeat, said: “When people rightly complain about the state of social care for the elderly, we can tell them there is a way to make it better and give our parents and grandparents the dignity they deserve.
“In fact, the answer is simple: it’s just going to need those that can to chip in a bit more tax.”
The five candidates are trying to win over party members today as the deadline to join the party on Monday looms.
The window to sign up as a registered supporter closed yesterday with just 14,700 people paying £25 for a vote in the contest.
The figure – compared to 180,000 when Jeremy Corbyn stood again in 2016 – is a blow to Ms Phillips who had hoped to convince centrists to sign up.
However, it is also bodes badly for ‘continuity Corbyn’ candidate Rebecca Long-Bailey who might have hoped for thousands of new supporters to back her.
The TSSA union, which was expected to automatically row in behind Ms Long-Bailey, announced it was balloting members to choose between her or Keir Starmer.
Sources told the Mirror that Mr Starmer had been “putting in the work” with the union’s executive and had arrived at the hotel bar the night before the meeting to talk with them.
Ms Long-Bailey, officially launching her campaign with a rally in Manchester tomorrow, will promise an end to the “gentlemen’s club” of politics by devolving more power from Westminster to the regions and local councils.
She will also continue with her ‘Green New Deal’ plan to tackle the climate crisis.
Emily Thornberry, who made it over the line on MP endorsements at the 11th hour, is launching her campaign on Friday.
