Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a cross-party meeting aimed at tackling the mounting adult social care crisis in England. The meeting, which includes representatives from both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, marks a significant step towards reforming a system that has been neglected for decades. Notably, Reform UK and the Green Party were not invited to participate.
Burnham calls for end to 'playing politics'
Ahead of his address later today, Burnham emphasized the urgent need for collaboration. "Last week I said we needed a different kind of politics: problem-solving, not point-scoring. Nowhere is that more urgent than social care. For decades, governments have kicked this issue down the road because they've seen it as too risky, too difficult, and too complicated. Politicians might have different views, but I'm serious about fixing this issue and to do that, we have to find common ground and listen to others to find a way forward," Burnham stated.
The Prime Minister stressed that the time for partisan squabbling is over, pointing to the human toll of the current system. He argued that successive governments have avoided reform, leading to a crisis that now threatens the entire healthcare infrastructure.
Conservative and Liberal Democrat response
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will not attend the meeting personally. Instead, shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew will represent the party. A Tory spokesperson confirmed that Badenoch has written to Burnham challenging him to rule out tax increases or additional borrowing to fund reforms. Andrew said, "We are ready to work with Labour on measures that improve social care provided they are not reliant on yet more tax rises and borrowing."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey will participate via Zoom. On social media, he wrote, "I'm hopeful this call may prove to be the first step towards fixing our broken care service." Davey is currently in France with his family and unable to attend in person.
Exclusion of Reform UK and Greens draws criticism
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, condemned the Prime Minister for not inviting his party, which he claims has "led over 300 national opinion polls and represents thousands of councillors and millions of Britons across the country." He accused Burnham of "conspiring behind closed doors with the failed political establishment to foist further tax rises on the country."
Green Party leader Zack Polanski expressed disappointment but focused on the issue itself. In an interview with BBC Newsnight, he said, "I would like to be there. Of course, I would, and I'd encourage the Prime Minister to extend that invitation. I think the point here, though, is not politicians' personal egos. The point is, adult social care is a ticking time bomb."
Statistics underscore the scale of the crisis
Government figures reveal the gravity of the situation: there are 1.46 million adult social care workers in England and an estimated 4.7 million unpaid carers. In June 2024, an average of 13,600 people a day remained in hospital despite being medically fit for discharge, partly due to the lack of adequate social care support in the community.
Demographic projections further highlight the urgency. The Centre for Ageing Better's State of Ageing report from 2023 forecast that by 2065, 26% of England's population will be aged 65 and over, with 46% aged 50 and above. The research predicts an increase of 3.3 million people aged 65 and over within the next two decades, rising to 6.5 million over the next four decades.
Burnham's pledge: reform or collapse
Burnham has repeatedly warned that the NHS "will collapse" without urgent social care reform. In his statement, he declared, "We can carry on passing the problem to the next generation, or we can face it head-on and work together to build a care system that gives people dignity, security and the support they deserve." He called on all parties to set aside differences and focus on solutions, adding, "This is about bringing back hope that we can finally fix the difficult issues that have been ignored for too long, and making Britain believe again. That's why I'm making this choice, and I'm prepared to put everything I've got behind it."
