Adult social care in England is in crisis, say Tory council leaders

Warning of 3.7bn funding shortfall over next 18 months piles pressure on Liz Truss after campaign pledges

Adult social care in England is in serious crisis, Tory council leaders have warned the government, as it faces a 3.7bn funding gap and a growing staffing shortage that has brought many local care providers to the brink of collapse.

The intervention by the County Councils Network, which represents 36 mainly Tory-run authorities, comes amid widespread local government concern over the increasing fragile state of social care. Care costs have accelerated recently, fuelled by unexpected wage and energy inflation.