- Workers face new tax to fund social care, with a proposed 1.8% levy on earnings to pay for Prime Minister Andy Burnham's reforms.
- Burnham plans to deliver a speech on social care discussing "problem-solving, not point-scoring" and will "set out his strategy for resolving one of the intractable issues in British politics".
Andy Burnham has issued a stark warning that the NHS is on the brink of collapse without significant reforms to social care. He has proposed a new 1.8% tax on workers' earnings, aimed at funding a new care system that could cost £18 billion annually.3
The proposal, reported by the Daily Telegraph, suggests that workers over the age of 34 would be subject to this levy, which is part of a broader strategy to address the ongoing social care crisis in Britain. Burnham emphasized the need for consensus among political leaders, inviting figures such as Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey to collaborate on urgent reforms.
In a forthcoming speech, Burnham plans to focus on “problem-solving, not point-scoring”, as he outlines his vision for resolving one of the most persistent issues in British politics. He aims to shift the narrative around social care, which has long been a contentious topic, and is calling for a united front to tackle the challenges ahead.
The urgency of these reforms is underscored by the potential consequences for the NHS, which Burnham warns could face dire straits without immediate action. The proposed tax is seen as a necessary step to ensure the sustainability of both the NHS and the social care system, which are inextricably linked.
“Burnham plans to deliver a speech on social care, emphasizing 'problem-solving, not point-scoring' as he outlines his strategy for this critical issue. The proposed 1.8% levy on earnings aims to fund a new care system costing £8bn a year, targeting workers over the age of 34.”
