The UK's social care crisis needs bold political thinking

Labour had been around 20% behind the Tories and Mrs May was being tipped to get a 150 seat majority.

One of the weekend opinion polls, by YouGov, has the Conservative lead now as low as 9%. This would still mean an overall majority for the prime minister, but a much smaller one.

It is possible this is a rogue poll but it is also possible that Labour will continue to narrow the gap. If Remain supporters vote tactically in parts of the country, it is still possible Mrs May will not even win a majority – which would be a disastrous reflection on her decision to call a snap election. A key reason for the Tory plunge is believed to be their proposed shake-up in social care funding, the so-called “dementia tax”.

The Conservative manifesto says that people will be expected to pay for their own care if they have combined savings and property valued at more than £100,000. Payment can be deferred until after death if they want to keep their home, and then it will be deducted from their estate.

These bold plans are unpalatable to many people. But there is an urgent need to tackle the issue, amid a demographic timebomb on care and the crisis it is causing in Britain. Northern Ireland is better placed to face the challenge given that health and social care are already organised together.

It is regrettable to see the Liberal Democrats saying that 90% of homes in England would be liable to be sold under the plan. The Tories are trying to come up with a progressive solution that ought to command respect on the political left.

The £100,000 plan is a sharp increase on the current £23,250 threshold. And as the former Chancellor Ken Clarke says, it would be grossly unfair to raise taxes on younger working people instead of tackling this issue head on.

The Tory plan might not be the best one but they are talking about it, which is commendable in the face of an election.