Theresa May's Social Care Cap U-Turn Prompts Many To Point Out It Doesn't Seem Like A 'Strong And Stable' Decision

'If this government is strong and stable then I'm Denzel Washington.'
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Theresa May has been roundly derided for U-turning on her flagship social care policy just four days after it was announced.

The policy - dubbed the “dementia tax” - would mean elderly people would have to pay for care in their own home if they have total assets of £100,000 or more.

But speaking at a launch of the Welsh Tory manifesto in Wrexham on Monday, the prime minister announced that a cap on social care costs will be included as an option in a consultation on reforms to be launched after the General Election.

Theresa May speaks at the launch of the Welsh Conservative manifesto on Monday
Theresa May speaks at the launch of the Welsh Conservative manifesto on Monday
Toby Melville / Reuters

May has repeatedly assured voters that she and her party are the “strong and stable” option for Britain - but many people pointed out that such a drastic U-turn didn’t exactly seem to stick to this mantra.

Labour and Lib Dem MPs were quick to jump on the move...

If that's 'strong & stable leadership in the national interest' then I'm a banana #GE2017 https://t.co/avl4xbH3tZ

— Angela Eagle (@angelaeagle) May 22, 2017

This is @Theresa_May's manifesto meltdown. This is not strong and stable. It's panic and u-turn.

— Norman Lamb (@normanlamb) May 22, 2017

If this government is strong and stable then I'm Denzel Washington and I'm playing up front for Spurs next season. Rank incompetence https://t.co/1rhU36wViZ

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) May 22, 2017

Strong and stable.....???!!! https://t.co/tZvUAAaWCV

— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) May 22, 2017

As well as others...

Nothing like a strong and stable U-turn. https://t.co/YDfDlktYUm

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 22, 2017

She says she's strong and stable but does whatever the Mail and a tiny coterie of hard Brexit MPs tell her to do.

— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) May 22, 2017

I guess the problem with hammering the "strong and stable" slogan into the ground is it accentuates the wobble when it comes

— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) May 22, 2017

How odd, Theresa May’s usual ‘Strong And Stable’ sign seems to be missing from her mid-campaign U-turn speech pic.twitter.com/30Sb3s98QP

— Jon Stone (@joncstone) May 22, 2017

Journalists questioning May following the announcement also pointed out that this did not appear to quite follow the party catch phrase...

"This doesn't look so strong and stable, does it prime minister? It looks like panic in the face of opposition." @bbclaurak goes straight in

— Stuart Millar (@stuartmillar159) May 22, 2017

"Doesn't this show you're really weak and wobbly not strong and stable," asks @MichaelLCrick.

— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) May 22, 2017

The policy has been dubbed the “dementia tax” by critics. And in a sign of social care taking centre stage in the election battle, both the Tories and Labour have bought ads on Google which pop up when users of the search engine type in the phrase.

Revealing the changes to her policy, May accused Jeremy Corbyn of making “fake claims” about social care proposals.

She also insisted that “nothing has changed” in her policy.

Speaking in Hull, the Labour leader said he welcomed the Tory climbdown.

He told Sky News’ Jason Farrell: “They haven’t said what the cap is... this is a government in chaos and confusion.”

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