Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to overhaul England’s adult social care system, promising to tackle an issue that governments have struggled to solve for decades.
Speaking during a major speech, Burnham described the failure to reform social care as a “serious failure of government” and said he is determined to deliver lasting changes.
His plans include creating a National Care Service, improving pay and training for care workers, and bringing social care closer together with the NHS.
Burnham also confirmed that an independent review, led by Baroness Casey, will now report next summer instead of 2028, speeding up work on long-term reform.
During an emotional speech, the Prime Minister spoke about his father, who has Alzheimer’s disease, praising the carers who support him.
He said he wants the reforms to make life better for “my dad and the millions like him.”
Funding still to be decided
Burnham acknowledged that major reforms would come with a cost but said the government would first look at making better use of existing funding before considering tax rises.
“I think we owe it to the public before we talk about tax rises,” he said, adding that people should be confident the government is making the best use of current budgets.
He confirmed that improvements to pay and training for care workers will be fully funded, but admitted that wider reforms would require “difficult decisions” in the future.
The Prime Minister also repeated his view that, ideally, nobody should have to sell their home to pay for care, describing it as an unfair situation that many families face.
Cross-party discussions begin
Following his speech, Burnham met with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Conservative shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew in an effort to build support across Parliament for long-term reform.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch did not attend the meeting.
The Conservatives have previously called on the government to rule out tax rises or increased borrowing to pay for any new social care plans.
Stuart Andrew said finding funding would be challenging but argued that money already exists within the system and could be used more effectively.
Burnham said previous governments had failed more than 20 times to reach a lasting agreement on social care and believes political parties must now work together.
Other parties respond
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey described the first meeting as “constructive” and said he was hopeful that a long-term agreement could be reached.
Davey, whose disabled son requires full-time care, said the current system is not working and stressed that unpaid family carers should remain at the centre of any reforms.
Reform UK criticised the government after not being invited to the talks. Party leader Nigel Farage said the government did not want to hear “a fresh, reforming voice” and argued that local councils, rather than central government, should remain responsible for adult social care.
The Green Party also expressed disappointment at being excluded, with social care spokesperson Ellie Chowns calling on the government to work with all parties if it wants meaningful reform.
Why social care matters
Adult social care provides support for people who need help living independently because of age, illness or disability.
Unlike NHS treatment, social care in England is not free for everyone. People with savings or assets worth more than £23,250 usually have to contribute towards the cost of their care, although different rules apply in Scotland and Wales.
Burnham said fixing social care would not only improve people’s lives but could also reduce pressure on the NHS by helping people receive the right care sooner.