The government has said there is "no question" of the UK government following Scotland's lead in offering free personal care to people living in residential homes in England and Wales.

Ministers stood firm today in the face of claims that the Scottish executive's shock decision would create a "two-tier system" of elderly care in the UK.

But they face renewed pressure to amend elderly care policy after the Scottish executive was last night forced to offer free long-term care for Scotland's pensioners.

The Scottish executive promised to introduce free personal care "as soon as practicable" in an astonishing policy u-turn designed to head off a potentially damaging parliamentary defeat.

The decision reversed an announcement made 24 hours earlier in which the executive said it would not make personal care for the elderly universally free.

Events in Scotland immediately gave fresh hope to campaigners in England, who hope to persuade the government to change their position on long term care.

Age Concern director general Gordon Lishman said Westminster would now have to "seriously consider" bringing policy into line with Scotland.

Proposals to provide free nursing care - but means tested personal care - in England and Wales are contained in the health and social care bill currently working its way through parliament.

Commons select committee chair David Hinchliffe said he wanted to see the government make amendments to the bill, which is currently at committee stage.

But health minister John Hutton said there was "no question" of the government following Scotland's lead.

He told the BBC: "Both the government and the Scottish executive are committed to improving health and social care services for older people, but we are doing it in different ways.

"We do not believe that this would be the best way forward for improving elderly care services in England."