Theresa May has said that the Conservative government would set an "absolute limit" on the amount that people pay for social care in a U-turn on the policy put forward in her party's election manifesto last week.
The prime minister claimed that the inclusion of a cap was a clarification that she was making because of attacks by the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, that she described as "fake claims" and "scaremongering".
"So I want to make a further point clear. This manifesto says that we will come forward with a consultation paper, a government green paper. And that consultation will include an absolute limit on the amount people have to pay for their care costs," she said.
May argued that the plans put forward by her party that triggered a controversial backlash were the "right funding model" – but the original plans made no mention of a cap.
Speaking at the launch of the Tory party manifesto in Wales, she added: "Jeremy Corbyn wants to duck this reality – and play politics. But there will be 2 million more people over 75 years old in Britain over the next decade alone. Our social care system will collapse unless we make some important decisions now about how we fund it." The Conservatives have suffered through the weekend with a negative reaction to their social care plans, which have been dubbed a "dementia tax" and caused negative headlines in supportive newspapers. The Sunday Times said the decision had tightened the polls and caused a "Tory wobble" while the Mail on Sunday said it had triggered a fierce backlash.
The policy alarmed Conservative MPs because it included a person's property in an assessment for social care within their home, although there is a £100,000 cap and a promise that people will not have to sell their homes while they are alive.
However, the money would have to be paid by offspring who could be forced to sell their parents' property and lose huge amounts.
The fear is that the policy will claw away at the inheritance of the children of Alzheimer's sufferers, while those whose parents have conditions such as cancer that qualify for NHS care would not be affected.
At the launch in Wrexham, the marginal north Wales seat held by Labour's Ian Lucas, May made clear that the plans would be included in a consultation paper, and would include a cap - which had not been mentioned. She also sought to change the narrative from social care to the imminent Brexit negotiations, saying a deal could not be delivered by those "uncertain or unsure" about leaving the EU.
Upping her attack on Corbyn, May said Labour had "taken people in Wales for granted for decades – just as it has in other communities across Britain."