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Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has announced plans to introduce a universal social care system in England that would be free at the point of use. Speaking on September 27, 2026, as the Labour Party conference opened in Liverpool, Burnham pledged to include the proposal in his party’s manifesto for the next general election.
Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Burnham described the current adult social care framework in England as deeply unfair. He compared the nation’s system to American healthcare, warning that vulnerable citizens risk losing everything they own to pay for necessary medical and daily support.
“I am talking about a system that works on NHS principles because that is the only way you can make it work,” Burnham told the BBC. “There is free personal care elsewhere in the UK. I don’t think it’s right that people in England don’t get the same.”
Current Rules vs. Other UK Nations
Under the existing regulations in England and Northern Ireland, individuals with savings or assets exceeding £23,250 must pay for their own care costs entirely out of pocket. In contrast, Scotland operates a different model, providing free personal care to all adults who are assessed as needing assistance with daily living tasks such as eating and bathing.
Burnham noted that the lack of adequate social care infrastructure also places a heavy burden on the National Health Service. Hospitals across England frequently face severe bed shortages because elderly and vulnerable patients cannot be safely discharged home without proper social support packages in place.
Funding Questions and Political Pushback
While Burnham confirmed that everyone would contribute to and be covered by the new model, he did not immediately detail how the reforms would be funded. He acknowledged that the changes might require difficult choices and could prove unpopular with some voters, but insisted that someone needed to grasp the nettle.
The proposal immediately drew sharp criticism from political opponents:
- Conservative Party: Shadow home secretary Chris Philp argued that the plan signalled upcoming tax rises, stating that further tax increases remain a red line for the Conservatives. He suggested any additional funds should instead come from welfare budget savings.
- Reform UK: Economic spokesman Robert Jenrick sharply criticized the initiative, accusing Burnham of pursuing a universal death tax that targets people’s homes.
Burnham previously championed a national care service while serving as health secretary in Gordon Brown’s government in 2009, a proposal that was heavily criticized by opponents as a death tax before Labour lost the 2010 general election. To minimize similar political risks this time, Burnham intends to have Whitehall troubleshooter Baroness Casey advise on the implementation and subject the final proposals to cross-party talks ahead of the next election.
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