Burnham doesn't rule out tax rises to fix social care

Andy Burnham has promised to end decades of government inaction by fixing adult social care in England - and did not rule out tax rises to help pay for it.

The prime minister said it was a "major dereliction of public duty" that successive governments had failed to address the crisis, adding there would be "difficult decisions" on funding but he was determined to "get it right."

His plans include a new national care service, with more pay and better training for care workers, and closer integration with the NHS.

He announced that a review of social care by veteran Whitehall troubleshooter Baroness Casey would now be published next summer instead of 2028.

In an emotional speech he praised those caring for his father, who has Alzheimer's, and said he wanted to deliver changes to help "my dad and the millions like him".

He is attempting to get cross-party consensus on any changes and has held initial talks with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in an effort to get them on board.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey took part in the talks but Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch could not be there and sent shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew instead.

Andrew said any changes must be "backed by a clear, credible and fully costed plan that delivers better care for the public and value for taxpayers".

Burnham did not invite the leaders of Reform UK or the Green Party of England and Wales to the talks. Both parties have expressed disappointment at this.

Making a speech at a care home in north London, Burnham said there was a feeling in Westminster that the issue is "too big a political risk" to deal with, adding he wants to take on the challenge as the "risks of failing to act are too great".

Burnham highlighted the financial impact of care costs on people and spoke of how fixing issues in social care could ease the pressure on the NHS and make savings.

The PM said Baroness Casey's review should consider how to pay for a national care service, adding there needs to a system that becomes "highly integrated" with the NHS.

Burnham said he wants to "immediately" focus on the social care workforce, noting a fair pay agreement is due to come into force from 2028/29 and described it as a "massive building block of a national care service".

Burnham first proposed a universal system of social care in England in 2009, when he was health secretary under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He suggested a compulsory levy to fund the system and Brown's government also floated the idea of allowing people to defer the payment until after they died, leading to the Tories branding it a "death tax".

Answering questions about his social care ambitions, Burnham was pressed on the prospect of tax rises.

He said the first thing is "to do more with what you've got" and issues he raised on Wednesday, including for the workforce, "will be fully funded".

Burnham added: "Some of what we would want to do in the fuller sense will require difficult decisions but we will be honest with people about those, we will put them before the country at the right time, and we will hopefully proceed with people's consent."

Adult social care provides state support to help people live more independently, including assistance at home.

Unlike the NHS, social care is not free at the point of use. In England and Northern Ireland, people with savings worth more than £23,250 are not entitled to help with care costs from their council.

In Wales and Scotland, different rules apply in terms of eligibility.

Asked about the threshold, Burnham said: "I think social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare. The vulnerable pay with everything and it can completely leave them with nothing.

"That floor has been in place for a long, long time and common sense says it cannot be fair."

Burnham said in "an ideal world" he would not want anyone to have to sell their home to pay for care, describing it as a "really awful process".

He added proposals he previously put forward were intended to stop that, saying: "If everybody on the NHS principle contributed a little, it would mean everybody could protect the majority of what they'd worked for."

Burnham said he did not know if people support that approach, adding this was for something for the consultation to consider.

On the cross-party talks, Burnham said there has been 22 failed attempts to make progress in almost 30 years.

The PM said: "We're going to have to find common ground here if this is to be a lasting solution."

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed said the first "constructive" discussion had left him feeling "hopeful" and more meetings will be required to find consensus.

He said: "Everyone will have to accept things we might not like in order to work together - but I think that's what the public want and expect us to do."

Sir Ed, who has a disabled son who needs round-the-clock care, said the system "just isn't working" and any solution must have family carers "at its heart".

Reform Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: "Make no mistake, today Andy Burnham fired the starting gun on his scheme to raid the little money that hundreds of thousands of regular people have struggled to save over their lifetimes.

"That's why he can't rule out the new universal death tax."

Green Party social care spokesperson Ellie Chowns said: "If Andy Burnham is serious about doing things differently and tackling the crisis in care, he must work collaboratively with the Greens and other parties to do so."