'I'm no communist, I'm an accountant': Caller's amusing exchange with Shelagh on social care

22 June 2021, 16:03 | Updated: 22 June 2021, 16:13

'Are you a communist? No, I'm an accountant'

EJ Ward

By EJ Ward

This exchange over selling houses to fund social care left Shelagh Fogarty chuckling.

Spencer from High Wycombe called to speak to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty on the care system.

The caller told Shelagh he was "speaking as a young person" as he revealed he believed house prices have "increased two and a half times in the last thirty years."

He said this led to "profit being sat on by the older generation."

Spencer said it was a "good idea" for the houses of older people to be sold and then younger people "do not have to pay the tax for the old people."

"What about the old people who don't have houses," Shelagh countered.

He said it was "fine, they'll be funded by the government."

But, Shelagh wanted to know if he could think of anything other than funding care, which required someone to sell their own house.

The caller said his point was that when older people's houses are not sold but are inherited they "often end up as buy to let".

"No they don't," Shelagh countered.

Spencer said if houses weren't sold to fund care, then "young people are the ones who end up having to pay for it. So they're paying twice"

He argued that it was "unfair" for young people.

As the discourse continued Shelagh asked one question to which the answer left her chuckling.

"Are you a communist?" She asked.

"I'm an accountant..."

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

The Princess of Wales says she edited the photograph that was released to mark Mother's Day.

The insistence that we see Kate is tantamount to stalking, writes Shelagh Fogarty

Caller tells Shelagh his solution to illegal immigration.

LBC caller tells Shelagh Fogarty that the Channel islands are the answer to 'illegal immigration'

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' immigration policies

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self-interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' migration policies

Shelagh Fogarty

Former Treasury official outlines 'three immediate priorities' likely to be reflected in Autumn Statement

Shelagh Fogarty

Suella Braverman's hardline crime bill seems like she's ‘interviewing' for career at ‘pathetic’ news channels, says caller

Shelagh and caller Sam

Anti-Semitic chants and actions 'delegitimize' pro-Palestinian cause asserts this Shelagh Fogarty caller

Shelagh and Ricardo Dos Santos

'It's sickening': Ricardo Dos Santos speaks to Shelagh Fogarty as two officers sacked over stop and search

Shelagh

Rishi Sunak has 'failed monumentally' to 'humanise' both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict says Israel expert

Shelagh and Callum

Twitter is a 'particularly dangerous' place to get information now says the Centre for Countering Digital Hate

Shelagh and caller Simon

LBC caller details 'disgusting anti-Semitic' act he witnessed, as hate crimes rise in fall out of Israel-Hamas war

Sister of missing Israeli woman

'We hope she's hiding somewhere': Sister of missing Israeli festival goer fears she is being held hostage by Hamas

Distraught caller on Israel-Gaza conflict.

'This is a war against Hamas!': Distraught caller wants Israel and Palestine to take down the 'enemy' together

Shelagh and Alicia Kearns

Head of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee expresses concern over Israeli 'siege of Gaza'

Shelagh Fogarty caller on facial recognition.

This caller lacks 'trust' in the government's handling of the AI facial recognition debate

Shelagh condemns PM's comments on 'dignity' of the elderly.

'He painted a picture of a Britain that the Conservatives meant to build...': Shelagh Fogarty condemns PM's suggestion that elderly have 'dignity'

Shelagh Fogarty on Jenrick

'We're full aren't we?': Shelagh questions Robert Jenrick's motive behind encouraging Brits to increase birth rate