Free social care for all should be a Labour policy

Sally Powell says the policy that her husband introduced in 1991 in one London borough – and from which he now benefits – could be implemented by every local authority

It has been reported that the Labour party is meeting this Friday to agree its manifesto. One of the most important challenges people face is the cost of social care for their loved ones. My husband, Iain Coleman, the MP for Hammersmith and Fulham from 1997 to 2005, has had about 20 strokes since 2004, and as a consequence has early dementia.

In 1991, my husband became the leader of Hammersmith and Fulham council, and – together with our brilliant director of social services, Dame Denise Platt and subsequently Geoff Alltimes, and in particular the driving force of my late fellow councillor and chief whip Colin Aherne – we introduced a policy of free social care.