Burnham to propose NHS-style social care system for England Tuesday

September 27, 2026 at 03:05 PM2 min

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Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to offer free social care to everyone in England, modeled on NHS principles. He will present the proposal to voters at the next general election and has asked Baroness Casey to advise on implementation. Burnham did not rule out tax rises, acknowledging the plan may be difficult or unpopular.

Key Facts

Burnham wants to offer free social care to everyone in England, modeled on NHS principles.
He will put his plans before voters at the next general election.
Burnham did not rule out tax rises, saying they may be difficult or unpopular.
Baroness Casey, conducting a review, will advise on the best way to implement the system.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the Conservatives would not support the reforms.

The Proposal

Burnham wants to offer access to free social care services to everyone in England. He described it as a system in which everyone contributes and everyone is covered. Burnham said he wants to set out his vision on Tuesday. He has made reforming social care one of his flagship policies.

Funding and Criticism

Burnham did not rule out tax rises, acknowledging they may be difficult or unpopular. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the PM was suggesting Labour wanted more tax rises. Burnham said the changes would have to be done carefully without putting extra strain on the public purse. He said nothing is off the table in terms of how the proposals would be funded.

Current System and Comparisons

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. Burnham said social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare, where the most vulnerable can lose everything.