A Bigg issue.

Byline: Sue Carroll

TWELVE years after Tony Blair said no one should have to sell their homes to pay for care, the government have a proposal.

Rather too late for the thousands who've seen their life savings spent on nursing homes, they will suggest an 'inheritance levy' of pounds 12,000 in exchange for being looked after by the state.

The payment will be made on retirement or deducted from an estate upon death. In principle this makes sense but it hardly fits the boast that the NHS is free at point of service.

As far as I understand it, hardworking ordinary people will spend their lives contributing to the health service and then be asked for a lump sum - to ensure care in their dotage.

Meanwhile the likes of Ronnie Biggs, a train robber who has done diddly-squat for this country, is entitled to walk straight from jail into a pounds 30,000-a-year, state-funded care home.

The real winners of this scheme should be the hard-working grafters of Britain. But once again it's the lazy, money-grubbing wasters who will truly benefit.