THE CONSERVATIVES need to be 'clear and upfront' about controversial social care funding plans.

That is the challenge being made by Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Leeds North West, Greg Mulholland, over proposals critics have called a 'dementia tax'.

The Tory plan would mean that anyone who receives care in their own home would have to pay for it through the value of their property - apart from a protected £100,000 - after they have died.

The Prime Minister Theresa May recently announced that there would be a (still to be decided) cap on the total contributions people would have to pay.

Mr Mulholland, however, said that was far from representing the 'U-turn' some have claimed.

He said: "The 'dementia tax’ is a horrible policy which creates uncertainty for those who require care and their loved ones.

"It lacks compassion and an understanding of the situation those requiring care face.

"It’s poor of the Conservatives to claim that they have fundamentally changed their policy when they simply haven’t.

"Carers and their loved ones are still facing the same uncertainty and the same threat of potentially losing their home.

"Nothing has changed, this is simply the Conservatives reacting to the negative reaction to the policy and trying to make of a show of a supposed change in approach.

"It’s no such thing and absolutely nothing has changed."

Currently anyone with savings or other assets worth more than £23,250 is expected to pay fully for their residential care.

The value of their home can be taken into account - but that doesn't apply to those being cared for in their own home.