𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham must set out his approach to health and social care “within days” of taking office, an over-60s campaign group has demanded.

Silver Voices warned that the sector is in “chaotic limbo” with Sir Keir Starmer on his way out as Prime Minister within days, with Mr Burnham set to take over. It comes as Baroness Casey is leading a commission into adult social care in England.

Dennis Reed, director of the organisation, said: “Like many other Labour policies, reform of social care is in chaotic limbo, and Andy Burnham must clarify his approach within days of taking office.

“Baroness Casey has gone rogue, ignoring Burnham’s promise to telescope the timetable for recommendations, and rejecting the key element of the Labour manifesto, to set up a National Care Service.

“She is about to launch an expensive, facile and unnecessary Big Conversation on social care, which smacks of being a vanity project, and must be halted. Those millions of older people waiting in pain and indignity for decent social care in their own homes deserve better than this and are looking to Andy Burnham to come good on his promises.”

Mr Burnham is set to become prime minister on July 20 after Sir Keir quit amid a swathe of controversies.

The incoming PM has said he wants to see a “fair and lasting” reduction to the UK’s welfare bill, amid rising spending on health and disability benefits in recent years.

But he has not set out plans to change the level of benefits payments or the criteria for receiving them.

In an online question-and-answer session on Reddit on July 3, the Makerfield MP affirmed his commitment to the triple lock, a policy introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government, which guarantees the state pension rises each year in line with either inflation, wage increases or 2.5% – whichever is the highest.

Health Secretary James Murray has previously been urged by Silver Voices to speed up reforms to social care.