The new Prime Minister's first major push into policy-making is set to shake up three of the country's most entrenched problems: social care, youth unemployment, and devolution. In a series of high-stakes speeches next week, Andy Burnham will lay out his vision for tackling these seemingly intractable issues, sparking hope among many that, after years of neglect, the government might finally be willing to take bold action.
The spotlight is shining brightly on social care, an area close to Mr. Burnham's heart. As Health Secretary under Gordon Brown from 2009, he first championed a universal social care system in England – a goal that has eluded successive governments ever since. According to Downing Street sources, the Prime Minister believes that these long-overlooked challenges can be overcome and are no longer worthy of being ignored.
The current state of adult social care is marked by significant disparities from the NHS model. Individuals with savings above £23,250 are not eligible for financial assistance from their local council to cover care costs – a system that has been criticized for creating 'postcode lotteries'. The challenge of reforming this sector has been a recurring promise among politicians; former Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to "fix the crisis" in 2019, while Labour faced criticism in July 2024 for abandoning plans for an £86,000 cap on lifetime personal care costs.
Responding to the Prime Minister's initiative, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed the move, stating that it marked a "real effort to end the social care catastrophe". However, Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake raised concerns about the financial implications, asking where the money for such reforms would come from.
The Prime Minister's upcoming speeches follow a whirlwind first week in office. Mr. Burnham has already committed to ending rough sleeping in England, reducing VAT on domestic electricity bills within the current financial year, and decreasing the cap on bus fares outside London from £3 to £2 from January 2027. His government also announced a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England, effective from April 2027.