Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, responding to Panorama’s investigation into an Essex care home, said: 

“The appalling treatment revealed by Panorama is completely unacceptable. It must be stamped out, and those responsible properly held to account. 

"The Care Quality Commission must up its game. Local councils, which are much closer to care homes, should have a strong role in monitoring and driving up care standards. Care home bosses who fail to ensure their residents are treated properly must also face tough consequences. 

"When the Care Bill was in the House of Commons, Labour voted to keep the CQC’s powers to check that local councils are commissioning care services properly and to have a new criminal offence so that negligent care home owners can be fined or sent to jail. The Government voted against these measures - its time they changed their mind.”