Lib Dems say penny on income tax would raise millions extra for NHS in Rochdale

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron with Councillor Andy Kelly

The Liberal Democrats say their proposal to put a penny on income tax to increase NHS and social care funding would raise an additional £25m for Rochdale, with £18m for the NHS and £7m for social care each year.

Councillor Andy Kelly, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Rochdale, said: "Right now in Rochdale we are seeing patients lying on trolleys in hospital corridors, urgent operations being cancelled and the elderly being denied the care they need.

"The Liberal Democrats are prepared to be honest with people and say that to secure the future of the NHS we will all need to chip in a little more. The future of our NHS is likely to be one of the key election issues.

"A penny in the pound would allow us to invest in improving local NHS services and ensuring the elderly receive the care they deserve.

"Our health and care services are chronically underfunded.

"We cannot continue asking the system to deliver more and more, without giving it the resources to do so."