Andy Burnham, speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, proposed raising billions more in taxes to fund free social care, similar to the NHS model. Experts estimate this could cost £18 billion annually. Burnham declined to specify a price tag but indicated he is open to tax increases and a 10% inheritance tax on all inheritances to pay for it. Former Labour Cabinet minister Darren Jones suggested scrapping the pensions triple lock as another measure to fund social care reforms.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Andy Burnham, the UK Prime Minister, pledged during the Labour Party conference in Liverpool to offer a universal free social care system at the next general election expected by 2029. Burnham aims to address England's "threadbare" social care services and avoid financial ruin for individuals, likening it to American healthcare where vulnerable people can lose everything due to costs. He emphasized that the current system is unsustainable and could break the NHS if left unaddressed.
Burnham acknowledged potential political risks, including being labeled as seeking a “death tax” on estates, but he remains committed to implementing reforms despite possible unpopularity. The proposal's funding details are yet undisclosed; however, experts suggest it might cost around £18 billion annually. Burnham denied this figure, suggesting the final cost would be lower.
Burnham indicated his readiness to spend political capital for these reforms and ruled out immediate implementation before the 2029 election due to potential backlash from opponents who view tax rises as a red line issue. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp warned that any plan requiring more tax hikes could face significant Conservative opposition, with some sources hinting at potentially scrapping the pensions triple lock to fund such reforms.
Written for “Social Care Reform Plan England” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
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Andy Burnham yesterday said he will fight the next election on a pledge to raise billions more in tax to fund 'free' social care.
asserted
he → see → care
Speaking as the Labour Party conference got under way in Liverpool, the Prime Minister said he was ready to 'grasp the nettle' and find the money needed to create an NHS-style 'national care service'.
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he → speak → service
Experts have warned making social care free at the point of use could cost £18billion a year – equal to 2p on the basic rate of income tax.
uncertain
care → warn → tax
Mr Burnham said the final cost would be lower, but declined to put a price tag on his plans.
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cost → say → plans
The PM indicated he was ready to countenance tax rises and said his proposal for a 10 per cent 'death tax' on all inheritances remained 'on the table'.
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proposal → indicate → table
He said it would be a system where 'everyone contributes, everyone is covered'.
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everyone → say → ?
Last night government sources told The Times that measures to pay for the Prime Minister's social care reforms could include scrapping the pensions triple lock.
uncertain
measures → tell → lock
And former Labour Cabinet minister Darren Jones said the cost was too high to be raised purely through tax – and suggested axeing the triple lock to help pay for it: 'The triple lock is very expensive and of benefit to older people.
uncertain
lock → say → people
If you are reallocating money to help older people in the social care system, maybe there is some reform that can be done there.'
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that → reallocate → system
Andy Burnham yesterday said he will fight the next election on a pledge to raise billions more in tax to fund 'free' social care.
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he → say → care
Mr Burnham is seen here attending the first day of the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool
Former Labour Cabinet minister Darren Jones said the cost was too high to be raised purely through tax – and suggested axeing the triple lock to help pay for it
uncertain
cost → see → it
The PM said a final decision on the funding model would depend on the outcome of Louise Casey's review of the social care system.
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decision → say → system
But he said he was willing to take 'unpopular' decisions to 'rip the plaster off' a problem that successive governments have failed to deal with.
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governments → say → that
Mr Burnham said the recent death of his father Roy, who was in a care home with Alzheimer's, had redoubled his determination to act.
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who → say → determination
In comments that will revive speculation about an early election, the PM said he would put his plan to the country in Labour's next manifesto.
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he → revive → manifesto
Mr Burnham said on Friday he wanted to 'knock dead' speculation about a snap election.
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he → say → election
But it is highly unusual for party leaders to start talking about the contents of a manifesto three years out from an election.
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leaders → start → election
Cross-party talks have already been held on social care and the PM said he hoped to reach a 'consensus'.
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he → hold → consensus
But both Reform and the Conservatives yesterday said they would not countenance tax rises to fund a new system.
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they → say → system
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said reforms should be funded by cuts to the welfare budget and other areas of government spending.
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reforms → say → spending
He said tax rises were a 'red line'.
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rises → say → ?
Reform UK's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick claimed Mr Burnham was 'too weak to cut the sky-high benefits bill'
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Burnham → claim → bill
Reform UK's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: 'Andy Burnham is too weak to cut the sky-high benefits bill, so he's coming for your home instead.'
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he → say → home
But Mr Burnham pointed out many families are already paying huge sums to care for elderly loved ones.
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families → point → ones
He told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show: 'Social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare, where the most vulnerable in society can lose everything, they can be wiped out, not just by the condition that they have, but wiped out financially.'
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they → tell → that
Mr Burnham's intervention came as the work and pensions secretary admitted the welfare system is too focused on handing people benefits instead of helping them to work.
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them → come → benefits
Pat McFadden said the benefits system was 'the wrong way round'.
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system → say → ?
In his speech to Labour's conference yesterday, he said it was time to focus on getting people into work, including ending the 'shameful' situation which has left one million young people not in education, employment or training (the so-called 'Neets').
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which → say → education
The Aporia
