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Andy Burnham has extended an invitation to the leaders of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats to engage in discussions about reforming social care in England. The prime minister aims to hold these talks on Wednesday, the same day he plans to deliver a speech emphasizing the importance of cross-party cooperation to address this issue effectively.
While Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has confirmed his attendance via remote connection due to personal commitments, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will not be present and will instead send the shadow health secretary, Stuart Andrew, as her representative. A source from the Conservative camp criticized the late notice of the invitation, describing it as seemingly insincere, suggesting it is “almost like it’s only being done for show.” Notably, Burnham did not extend invitations to the leaders of Reform UK or the Green Party of England and Wales.
Burnham has been vocal about the urgency of reforming social care, warning recently that without significant changes, the NHS risks collapse. He has expressed determination to dedicate all his political capital toward fixing the broken system, although he avoided setting a definitive timeline for implementing reforms. His advocacy for a universal social care system dates back to 2009, during his tenure as health secretary under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. At that time, he proposed a compulsory levy to fund social care and suggested allowing individuals to defer payments until after their death—a proposal criticized by the Conservatives as a “death tax.”
During Wednesday’s speech, Burnham is not expected to announce detailed reform plans but will pledge to accelerate the work of the Casey Commission, an independent review chaired by Baroness Louise Casey. This review is tasked with developing recommendations for establishing a National Care Service. Joined by Health Secretary Yvette Cooper and Baroness Casey, Burnham will launch a public consultation inviting input on the future of social care. He remarked ahead of the speech, “It’s time to draw a line under people playing politics,” emphasizing the need for a problem-solving approach rather than partisan point-scoring given the complexities and risks that have stalled progress on social care for decades.
In response, Badenoch had previously written to Burnham urging him to rule out tax increases or borrowing to fund reforms. A Conservative spokesman affirmed that Stuart Andrew would attend on Badenoch’s behalf, emphasizing their readiness to collaborate on improving social care provided any proposals are supported by detailed, credible plans without relying on increased taxes or borrowing. He stated: “Social care is vital to protecting the most vulnerable in our society… Andy Burnham and Labour cannot rely on vague promises of reform without a clear plan for implementation and detail on what will happen when.”
Sir Ed Davey, who is currently in France caring for his disabled son, expressed hope that the meeting could become “the first step towards fixing our broken care service.” He highlighted the history of unsuccessful reform efforts, noting that “there have already been 22 failed attempts at reforming social care since 1997.” He stressed the need for a new approach to ensure this 23rd effort succeeds, saying, “My party has been pushing for cross-party talks on care for years, because it is the only way to build a solution that actually works.” His priorities include centering family carers in any reforms and protecting individuals from losing their homes or life savings to catastrophic care costs.
Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage expressed frustration at the exclusion of his party from the discussions, accusing Burnham of “conspiring behind closed doors with the failed political establishment” and ignoring a party that leads in numerous national polls and represents millions across the country. Green Party leader Zack Polanski, asked about his absence, suggested that while the decision to invite only certain leaders was the prime minister’s prerogative, he welcomed the initiative overall. He remarked, “The point here, though, is not politicians’ personal egos, the point is adult social care is a ticking time bomb.”
Adult social care in England offers state support to help individuals live more independently, including home assistance. Unlike the NHS, this care is not free at the point of use, and in England and Northern Ireland, those with savings exceeding £23,250 generally do not qualify for council help with care costs, while different eligibility rules apply in Wales and Scotland.
The challenges posed by the cost of care are illustrated by the experience of Richard Hardy, a resident of Broadway Lodge Residential Home in York. After living there for two and a half years, he and his wife Diane are concerned about the sustainability of paying £1,100 per week, especially as Diane does not want to resort to selling their family home to cover costs. She noted, “I’ve done a lot of money juggling over the last few months.” Although Richard feels comfortable at the home, the financial strain remains a significant source of anxiety.
Faizal Mohamudbaccus, the care home’s owner, acknowledges the systemic difficulties faced by elderly residents and their families. He stresses that no resident would be asked to leave due to insufficient funds, but he calls for local authorities to act more promptly when financial support is needed. He added, “The system for an elderly person coming into a care home is broken and there’s not enough social workers, there’s not enough organisation or planning and I think a more robust system would make it easier for the family.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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