UK leader Johnson gambles on tax hike to pay for elder care

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a tax increase to pay for the rocketing cost of long-term care for Britain’s growing older population. Johnson told lawmakers in the House of Commons on Tuesday that he had made the “difficult but responsible” decision to hike taxes in order to raise 36 billion pounds ($50 billion) over three years for social care and the overstretched National Health Service. Johnson announced a 1.25% increase in National Insurance payments made by working-age people, saying the move was “responsible, necessary and fair.” But the plan breaks an election promise not to raise taxes. Johnson is facing a pushback from members of his own Conservative Party, as well as the opposition.