British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to present his plan for reforming the country’s social care system at the next general election, promising a system that would be free at the point of use and funded across the population.
Burnham made the commitment as he began his first Labour Party conference as prime minister, saying he was prepared to address the longstanding challenges facing social care despite the political and financial difficulties involved.
Under the proposal, people receiving social care would not have to bear the full cost of their care, a major change to a system that has left some families selling property or taking on debt to meet care-home expenses.
Burnham said he would not introduce the full reform plan before the next election, which is due by mid-2029. The decision gives the government additional time to determine how the system could be financed.
The prime minister acknowledged that reform would require difficult decisions and said he was prepared to put the proposal before voters at the election.
The issue comes as the UK government faces wider fiscal pressures, including high borrowing costs, rising energy expenses and increasing welfare spending. Burnham said his immediate priority was to reduce pressure on households and address the country’s cost-of-living challenges.
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