My main issue with this is that it affects only those people who have significant care needs which require either regular care in their own homes or residential care. I think I am right in saying that the majority of elderly people do not go into care homes and it seems rather unfair to me that those who are unfortunate to have to do so should have so much taken away from them.
I wonder if it would be fairer if those people who own properties could pay into some sort of government-sponsored insurance scheme which would, if the need arose, cover all their care costs. Of course, this would mean that the majority of people would have paid for something that they did not need, but that is like all insurances and I personally would not mind doing that for my own, and everybody else's, peace of mind. No doubt some people would say that wasn't fair because those who owned no property would get all their care paid for without paying into an insurance scheme but my feeling is that the majority of people who live in rented accommodation do so because they don't have the money to buy their own home.
I don't suppose that would be a very popular idea with homeowners. However, I think people who have benefited from the huge rises in the price of their homes, not through any extra effort on their part but merely as a result of market forces (and I include myself in that) should be willing to make more of a contribution.
My own view is that the threshold for inheritance tax should be much lower (perhaps set at different levels, as with income tax). Of course, the Conservative government raised the threshold and, once again, the better off were protected while poorer people bore the brunt of the cuts.
These are just ideas and no doubt someone will say that they are unworkable but I really feel that care of the elderly should be the responsibility of everyone - not just those who have complex care needs.
The statement that "without the obligations and duties of citizenship society would not function" is rather rich coming from a government that has allowed large corporations and wealthy individuals to shirk their obligations and duties by avoiding paying tax for the services and infrastructure from which they benefit and on which they depend.