- Andy Burnham, now prime minister, has proposed an NHS-style social care system for England that would be free at the point of use, with costs spread across the population.
- Burnham stated he would not rush the changes and plans to present his proposal at the next national election, which is due by mid-2029.
- Burnham previously produced a plan for a national care service while serving as health secretary, which was branded a 'death tax' and did not progress after the 2010 election loss.
- At the 2017 general election, Theresa May's proposal for a 'dementia tax' led to significant backlash, resulting in the Conservatives losing their majority.
Andy Burnham has proposed a revolutionary NHS-style social care system for England, aiming to provide free services at the point of use. He plans to unveil his detailed reform strategy at the next general election, emphasizing the need for cross-party consensus to ensure its success.12
Burnham stated, "I will develop a very clear plan and I will put that plan to the public at a general election and that will be where the plan gets tested and people will then be able to decide." He acknowledged the potential financial implications, saying, "It will be a system of that kind – so everyone contributes, everyone is covered but not precisely necessarily in the same way that we currently pay for the NHS."
The former Manchester mayor highlighted the current unfairness in social care, comparing it to the American healthcare system, where vulnerable individuals can face financial ruin. He noted, "People already face a huge cost at the moment and social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare."
Burnham's proposal comes at a time when social care reform has been a longstanding challenge for British leaders. He aims to address the crisis, stating, "I am going to go show leadership on this issue ... I won’t dodge the difficult questions." His plans will be informed by a review led by Baroness Casey, with the goal of building a consensus across political lines.
Despite the challenges, Burnham remains committed to his vision, asserting, "Nothing is off the table at this moment in time" regarding funding options.
“Burnham said the system would be funded by contributions from everyone, but he did not rule out tax rises, acknowledging it may be 'difficult or unpopular.' He also asked Baroness Casey to bring forward her review to next summer, and faced Conservative criticism that the plan implies more tax rises.”
BBC
