Rutland MP Alicia Kearns has defended the rise in National Insurance announced by the Prime Minister to help solve problems in the social care sector.

The MP, who along with Boris Johnson was elected less than two years ago on a manifesto commitment not to impose tax rises of this kind, also blamed the impact of the pandemic for this.

Today, the government is to force MPs to vote on the move, barely a day after the measures were announced.

Last night, Mrs Kearns posted on social media: "The Government has today stepped forward to create a long term solution for funding health and social care.

"This is a challenge of many decades, there are no easy solutions, and after the pandemic we face enormous financial challenges whilst the pressures of social care become more significant and acute.

"I know the Prime Minister had hoped to look at a solution before entering pandemic but this was not possible. Today I lobbied him on ensuring Leicestershire and Rutland councils get the money they need.

"A UK-wide 1.25% Health and Social Care Levy will be introduced from April 2022, paid by individuals and businesses. The levy will create on average an additional £12bn annually for health and social care.

"The £12bn will help us tackle the backlog in the NHS, invest the largest amount of any Government ever to upskill the social care workforce, fund a nurses 3% pay rise and implement the Dilnot solution to cap social care costs.

"Too many of us are very worried about finding the compassionate care we want our loved ones to receive, and I think it's right that further borrowing and debt isn't how we go about funding social care."

Earlier yesterday, the MP quizzed the Prime Minister in the Commons, asking: "During the pandemic, the Government stepped in to save lives and jobs. In Rutland and Melton, 47% of jobs would have been lost without those efforts.

"Does the Prime Minister agree that it would be wrong to meet the cost with higher borrowing and debt, which would be carried by our children?

"Will he commit to look at those councils that are worse funded, specifically Leicestershire and Rutland, which need real help with social care above and beyond a generic formula across the country?"

Boris Johnson replied: "Yes, Mr Speaker. I thank my hon. Friend for what she says about Rutland and Melton, and we will certainly make sure the councils get the funding they need.

"She has hit on the fundamental point: borrowing more is no answer. We are borrowing a lot, and in the end borrowing is just future tax rises for younger people or even people unborn. That is not what this Government are going to do."

Public responses to the MP's comments on Facebook were largely critical.

David Norton said: "Where is the £350m a week that was freed up from Brexit? All the government has done today is ensure they won't be in government after the next election, if I wanted a Labour government I would have voted for it!

"As it is now with Labour-lite in power I may as well vote actual Labour next time around, couldn't possibly be any worse over than now with the heaviest tax burden since the post war years!"

Emerson Mcaree said: "This is a joke. Young people already struggle to save and most can't get on the housing market. Now your asking us to pay more tax?"

Mark Routen said: "So you are proud of breaking the manifesto pledges then? This is the least conservative government in history and you have lost the vote of this lifelong Tory. Boris was to be the new Churchill not a Corbyn clone."

However, Chloe Harley posted: "Personally I'm happy to pay a little bit extra NI to protect the system we have in place here. I'm from the US and I don't think you all realise how lucky we are to have the NHS, state pensions, etc."

Nigel Hodges commented: "A great start to improving the funding of the NHS and Social Care.

"Ultimately funds need to come from somewhere, so whilst no one likes paying more we probably have little choice unless we want to put up with the current situation.

"But is it enough? £12bn equates to £179 of extra spend per person per year, which doesn't sound a great deal."