Archive · 27 Sep 2026
Andy Burnham Pledges Social Care Reform Plan At Next Election
Andy Burnham wants to change how social care is paid for in Britain.
Social care helps people who need support in care homes or at home.
He said his proposed system would be free when people use it.
The cost would be shared across the population.
Burnham plans to show voters the proposal at the next national election.
That election is due by mid-2029.
He says he will not avoid difficult choices, including possible spending cuts.
Some politicians have suggested changing pension payments to help pay for the reforms.
The government is also dealing with high borrowing costs, rising energy bills, and other financial pressures.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he will present a social care reform proposal at the next national election.
He said the system would be free at the point of use, with costs spread across the population.
Burnham said the plan would be tested by voters at an election due by mid-2029.
The pledge follows his father’s death earlier this month in a care home.
Potential funding options include spending restraint, while the government faces fiscal pressures before its October 28 budget.
- Who
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with Darren Jones discussing a possible funding option.
- What
- Burnham pledged to present a free-at-the-point-of-use social care reform plan at the next general election.
- When
- The pledge was made on Sunday, September 27; the next election is due by mid-2029, with a budget scheduled for October 28.
- Where
- At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Britain.
- Why
- To address Britain’s social care crisis, in which people may sell property or incur debt to cover care costs, while spreading the financial burden across the population.
Immediate Action and Spending Control
Election Mandate and Shared Funding
When to publish the plan
Immediate Action and Spending Control
Supporters of faster action could argue that Britain’s social care crisis requires reforms to be set out before the next election.
Election Mandate and Shared Funding
Burnham said the proposal should be presented to the public at the next election, where voters can test and judge it.
How to pay for reform
Immediate Action and Spending Control
Darren Jones said scrapping the pensions triple lock could be considered, while Burnham said he would identify areas where spending could be restrained.
Election Mandate and Shared Funding
Burnham proposed a system whose costs would be spread across the population, rather than requiring care users alone to pay.
- Proposed system
- Social care would be free at the point of use.
- Timing
- Burnham plans to present the proposal at the next national election.
- Election deadline
- The next national election is due by mid-2029.
- Personal context
- Burnham’s father died earlier this month in a care home.
- Possible funding option
- Darren Jones said scrapping the pensions triple lock could be considered.
- Fiscal pressure
- The government faces a reported £4.7 billion gap in its Defence Investment Plan.
- Upcoming budget
- The budget is scheduled for October 28.