Andy Burnham has pledged to address adult social care in England and has not ruled out tax rises as part of the funding needed for reform, according to BBC News.
The prime minister said successive governments had failed to tackle the issue and described that record as a serious failure of public duty. He said there would be difficult choices on how changes are paid for, but that he was determined to deliver a workable settlement.
His proposals include creating a national care service, improving pay and training for care workers, and linking social care more closely with the NHS. He also announced that Baroness Casey’s review of social care will now be published next summer, rather than in 2028.
Speaking after his speech, Burnham said he wanted to examine existing budgets before considering tax rises. He said reforms to improve pay and training for the care workforce would be fully funded, but broader changes would involve decisions being put to the public at the appropriate time.
Burnham also said that, in an ideal system, people would not have to sell their homes to meet care costs. He referred to proposals he made as health secretary in 2009, which he said were designed to protect people from that outcome through wider contributions based on the NHS principle.
The prime minister later held talks with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Conservative shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew as he sought cross-party support. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was not available. Reform UK and the Green Party of England and Wales were not invited, and both expressed disappointment.
Andrew told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme that it was important to set funding red lines, while acknowledging that finding money would be challenging. Sir Ed described the first discussion as constructive and said further meetings would be needed to reach agreement.
Adult social care supports people to live more independently, including through help at home. Unlike NHS care, it is not free at the point of use. In England and Northern Ireland, people with savings above £23,250 are not eligible for council help with care costs, while Wales and Scotland have different rules.
