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In a heartfelt address delivered at a care home in north London, Andy Burnham spoke emotionally about those looking after his father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. He expressed his determination to enact reforms that would benefit “my dad and the millions like him.” Aiming to build cross-party support for such changes, Burnham has initiated discussions with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, seeking agreement on the way forward. While the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey participated personally in the talks, the Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was absent and instead delegated shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew to represent her. Andrew emphasized that any proposed reforms must come with “a clear, credible and fully costed plan that delivers better care for the public and value for taxpayers.”
Burnham chose not to extend invitations to the leaders of Reform UK or the Green Party of England and Wales for these discussions, a decision that both parties publicly criticized. During his speech, Burnham conveyed a sense of frustration with Westminster’s reluctance, describing social care reform as “too big a political risk” for many to tackle. He stressed his willingness to face this challenge head-on, warning that “the risks of failing to act are too great.” Noting the financial strain social care puts on individuals, he highlighted how reforming the system could reduce pressure on the NHS and yield cost savings. Burnham also referred to the review led by Baroness Casey, suggesting it should explore funding options for a national care service and advocating for a system that is “highly integrated” with the NHS.
A key focus for Burnham is the social care workforce. He proposed prioritizing their conditions immediately, mentioning a forthcoming fair pay agreement set to be implemented in 2028/29, which he described as “a massive building block of a national care service.” Burnham’s vision for social care dates back to 2009, during his tenure as health secretary under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. At that time, he proposed a universal social care system funded by a compulsory levy, with the option for people to defer payments until after their death—a plan that was subsequently branded a “death tax” by the Conservative Party. Addressing questions over potential tax increases, Burnham stated that the initial step is “to do more with what you’ve got,” while assuring that workforce-related initiatives “will be fully funded.” He acknowledged that more comprehensive changes might require “difficult decisions,” but pledged transparency and public consent before proceeding.
Burnham drew attention to the current inequities within adult social care, which unlike the NHS, is not free at the point of use. In England and Northern Ireland, anyone with savings over £23,250 generally does not qualify for council assistance with care costs, while Wales and Scotland have different eligibility rules. He compared England’s social care system to American healthcare, describing it as deeply unfair since “the vulnerable pay with everything and it can completely leave them with nothing.” Burnham expressed his ideal of a system where no one would have to sell their home to pay for care, calling the process “really awful.” He reiterated that his previous proposals aimed to prevent such hardship by asking everyone to contribute a small amount, ensuring the majority of people’s savings would be protected. While uncertain about public support for this approach, he indicated that the upcoming consultation would explore the matter. Regarding the broader political situation, Burnham reflected on nearly three decades of failed attempts to reform social care and underscored the need to “find common ground here if this is to be a lasting solution.” Meanwhile, Reform UK’s treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick criticized Burnham’s plan as a “scheme to raid the little money that hundreds of thousands of regular people have struggled to save,” warning of a potential “new universal death tax.” Green Party spokesperson Ellie Chowns called on Burnham to collaborate with Greens and other parties, stating that genuine progress requires a cooperative approach
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