HEREFORD MP Paul Keetch has accused the Labour Government of relegating the elderly in England to the status of the third class citizens.

Mr Keetch was speaking before the launch of the Right to Care campaign, which will call for the full implementation of the proposals from the Royal Commission for Long Term Care, earlier this week.

"Only the care given by a registered nurse has been made free. Everything else; dressing, bathing and feeding, will continue to have a price tag," he said.

"The more generous schemes announced by both Wales and Scotland, rightly recognise that you cannot draw an arbitrary distinction between who pays for care on the basis of who provides it.

"By accepting the Royal Commission's central proposal, the Scots are offering their senior citizens a package that will work in practice, end discrimination and deliver dignity to all.

"The Right to Care campaign will put yet more pressure on the Government to recognise that the so called 'free' nursing care policy they have proposed is unfair, untenable and unworkable.

Mr Keetch added: "When it comes to care, Labour has relegated the elderly in England to the status of third class citizens."