Prime Minister Andy Burnham Launches Cross-Party Talks on England's Adult Social Care System

Successive governments in England have avoided social care reform. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on July 29, 2026, that past administrations avoided the topic because they viewed it as too risky and complicated.

1. Andy Burnham invited opposition leaders Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey to discuss reform on July 29, 2024. He seeks cross-party agreement through this outreach.

2. The government tasked the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care with drafting recommendations for a National Care Service.

3. The "Big Conversation on Care" initiative integrates public values and principles into the design of the future care system.

4. Social care reform addresses the primary factors behind the strain on the National Health Service (NHS). The change lowers costs for families.

1. Previous governments avoided social care reform for decades. Burnham attributed this to the perception that the task was 'too risky, too difficult, and too complicated.'

2. Baroness Casey noted that reliance on council tax to fund current failures persists. Structural funding issues remain a significant hurdle for any new proposal.

3. Whether Badenoch and Davey will back significant tax increases to fund reform remains untested.

4. Baroness Casey described the current system as broken and unpredictable. The commission must address these findings.