Burnham seeks cross-party consensus on urgent social care reform

Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday pledged to put 'problem-solving, not point-scoring' at the heart of his bid to finally fix England's fractured social care system. In a speech expected to accelerate the publication of an independent review led by Louise Casey, Burnham invited Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to cross-party talks. But the path to consensus appears rocky: Badenoch will be absent due to minor surgery, sending shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew instead, while Davey will join via video call.

Cross-party talks face early hurdles

Burnham’s overture to the main Westminster parties conspicuously excluded Nigel Farage, underscoring his focus on establishing common ground among those he sees as serious about reform. However, the Tories quickly imposed red lines, and negative headlines about inheritance tax – a potential funding source – have already stirred tensions. Several Labour MPs also voiced concerns about how to manage the financial burden of a reformed care sector. Burnham acknowledged the difficulty, saying, 'We need a different kind of politics. For decades, governments have kicked this issue down the road because they’ve seen it as too risky, too difficult and too complicated.'

Options on the table: from free-at-point-of-use to Scottish model

The prime minister is not expected to present concrete proposals in his speech, but he is understood to favour a system free at the point of use, akin to the NHS. A care costs cap is seen as less attractive, though cheaper for the taxpayer. A middle-ground option would mirror Scotland’s model, where the state covers personal care costs but individuals pay for accommodation and food in care homes. Whichever path Burnham chooses, significant extra investment – likely through tax increases – will be needed.

Financial challenges and tax options

The economic backdrop is tightening. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) has warned of 'very difficult trade-offs' in the autumn budget if the ongoing conflict in Iran keeps oil prices and inflation high. Burnham has a history of linking social care funding to inheritance tax: as health secretary under Gordon Brown, he proposed replacing inheritance tax with a 10% levy on all estates, which could raise up to £18 billion. Over the weekend, he did not rule out revisiting that option. However, the Tories have already signalled opposition, and public appetite for new taxes remains uncertain.

Public engagement and next steps

Alongside the political manoeuvring, Louise Casey is launching the 'Big Conversation on Care' – an online platform inviting the public to share their views on the future of adult social care in England. Casey has warned that money alone won’t fix the problem, hinting at the need for systemic change. The review’s findings, now expected sooner than planned, will feed into the government’s decision-making. Burnham’s challenge is to sustain cross-party goodwill long enough to turn decades of political failure into lasting reform. With the shadow of a tough autumn budget looming, the coming weeks will test whether his brand of problem-solving politics can deliver where so many before have fallen short.