𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham has signalled a major taxpayer-funded expansion of social care, pledging to make care free at the point of use across Britain. The Prime Minister wants to overhaul the system so people needing social care would no longer face the huge bills that can force families to sell their homes or fall into debt.

But making care free at the point of use would require the cost to be spread across the population, meaning taxpayers would ultimately fund the new system. Mr Burnham has not yet set out exactly how much the reforms would cost or which taxes could be used to pay for them. Instead, he plans to put his proposals to voters at the next general election, due by mid-2029, promising to tackle one of the most difficult issues facing successive governments.

Speaking at the start of his first Labour conference as Prime Minister, Mr Burnham said he would “rip the plaster off” social care and refuse to dodge difficult decisions.

He said: “I am going to go show leadership on this issue … I won’t dodge the difficult questions. I am going to rip the plaster off, if I can put it that way, because someone has to do it.”

Mr Burnham said the plan would be tested by the public at the general election and acknowledged that it could prove “difficult or unpopular with some”.

The former Manchester mayor has deliberately delayed unveiling the full proposal, giving Chancellor John Healey more room for manoeuvre before the Budget on October 28.

The move also avoids an immediate decision on the potentially huge cost of introducing free social care, at a time when the Government is already facing pressure over its finances.

The Government is keen to avoid the immediate prospect of major tax rises, while Mr Burnham has said he is prepared to identify areas where spending could be reined in.

One possible route to funding the reforms has already been raised by Labour figures.

Darren Jones, a close ally of former prime minister Keir Starmer, said scrapping the pensions triple lock should be considered as an option for paying for social care reform.

The Government is already facing high borrowing costs, a rising welfare bill and increasing energy costs. Mr Burnham and Mr Healey also need to find £4.7 billion to fill a gap in the Defence Investment Plan.

Several previous prime ministers have attempted to reform social care, but the issue has remained unresolved.

Mr Burnham said his priority was to ease pressure on people struggling with the cost of living.

His proposal would therefore amount to a major expansion of publicly funded social care, with the cost ultimately spread across the population.

However, the precise funding mechanism — including whether this would involve higher taxes — has yet to be announced.