Author: Martin Powell, Professor of Health and Social Policy, University of Birmingham

Before the general election, former prime minister Rishi Sunak was asked on TV why he “hated pensioners”. After her recent speech in parliament, the same question might be directed at Chancellor Rachel Reeves. She has launched an assault on pensioners in England and Wales akin to the classic boxing “one-two”. First, the jab: it would not be possible to implement an £86,000 cap on the costs adults would have to pay towards their social care. This was swiftly followed by the cross punch: Reeves announcing the “difficult decision that those not in receipt of pension credit or certain other means-tested…