Goldsmith refuses to rule out future return to Tory fold

The former mayoral candidate quit as a Tory MP in protest at the Government's Heathrow expansion plans, forcing a by-election which he is fighting as an independent candidate against the move.

The Conservatives decided not to contest the Richmond Park seat in the 1 December election, amid claims it did not want to split the Tory vote and risk losing to the Liberal Democrats.

Conservative MPs had also been campaigning for him on the doorstep. Jav
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Speaking to Sky News, Mr Goldsmith refused to be drawn over whether he would rejoin the party in future, insisting his sole focus was on winning the by-election.

He said: "I have got a massive campaign on my hands, I have got a massive challenge for the next week.

"If I am elected I will be the independent, I will be the independent all the way through this Parliament.

"Who knows if I will even stand in the next election. It would be the height of arrogance to start putting this one in the bag."

Pressed again, he said: "I could join the Monster Raving Loony Party in five year's time.

"I am not thinking ahead that far.

"My job is to get elected now, send a message to GGovernment and win this campaign."

His Liberal Democrat rival Sarah Olney said speaking to voters, Brexit "was the thing they really wanted to talk about".Jav PrestigeShe said if elected she would vote against triggering Article 50, the formal process for leaving the EU.

Ms Olney also said her party wanted another public vote once the terms of Brexit were known.

She said: "It's a second referendum but it's not re-running the first referendum, it's very much the next step."

She denied it was was a bid to block the decision to leave the EU.

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The Liberal Democrat hopeful said: "It's about making sure we have carefully considered all the implications of leaving the EU and that we are making a considered decision."

She added: "I want us to remain in the EU. That's what I really, really want.

"If we can't do that then at the very least we need to remain in the single market."

She denied there was any contradiction with a previous blog post in which she accepted that Britain was leaving the EU, while now vowing to fight to remain.

She said: "I personally really, really wanted to remain but the country voted to leave.

"That's where we are at. The country have voted to leave but I still think it's in our best interests to remain.

"That's what I will be fighting for if I win this by-election."

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The Labour candidate Christian Wolmar also said voters in the constituency were "very worried" about Brexit.Jav Doctor

Despite his party's commitment not to block Article 50, Mr Wolmar said he would vote against it if it was a "single line" with no details

Social care cash shortfall 'devastating', ministers warned

Chancellor Philip Hammond is facing mounting criticism after failing to earmark more cash for social care in his Autumn Statement.Jav XXX Full DVDNHS Confederation chairman Stephen Dorrell, a former Tory health secretary, said he was "very disappointed" the Government had not made extra funding provision, branding it a "mistake".

The head of the influential Commons Health Select committee Dr Sarah Wollaston, a former GP turned MP, has also said she was "regularly seeing people severely affected by lack of social care".

The Conservative politician blamed both a lack of funding and a staffing crisis.

Highlighting the "underfunding" of social care, Dr Wollaston tweeted: "Govt cannot keep ignoring the devastating impact on individuals & the NHS."
The criticism ramps up pressure on the Government as leaders of the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and independent groups of the Local Government Association warned of a current "social care crisis".

In a letter to The Observer newspaper, they said: "The Government cannot ignore it any longer if we are to truly have a society that works for everyone."

They added: "The fact the Government appears to have chosen not to act will lower the quality of life for our elderly and vulnerable residents."

Mr Dorrell told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show he was "very disappointed" at the absence of social care in the Chancellor's mini-budget.Jav S1 NO.1 STYLE
He said: "It was a mistake in my view not to make an investment in social care."

A lack of social care provision causes problems for hospitals with so-called bed blocking because they cannot discharge elderly patients, adding to winter pressures on the NHS.

Mr Dorrell told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "There is no good going into this winter saying it is all going to be all right when we already have lengthening queues in A&E departments, we already have problems with hospitals unable to discharge people because of inadequate provision of social care."

A Government spokesman said: "We're supporting those most in need with a social care package worth £3.5bn by 2019-20 compared to the £2.9bn councils said they needed.

"We've also devolved new powers and funding to local areas so they can integrate health and social care, provide better services for older people, and plan for an ageing populationJav Office