Andy Burnham, a former Greater Manchester mayor, could potentially enter Downing Street as prime minister as early as mid-July. Should he be successful, his policy proposals may include significant reforms to the United Kingdom's social care system. Burnham has long supported the idea of social care becoming a more universal service, aiming to address the current system where subsidized care is primarily reserved for individuals with the highest needs and fewest assets.
In a 2023 speech, Burnham proposed funding this universal care model by replacing the existing inheritance tax with a new "national care levy." He suggested that this levy would be paid by everyone, with a clear implication that wealthier individuals would contribute the most. The Health Foundation, a think tank, estimated in 2024 that an NHS-style universal and comprehensive care system could require approximately £17 billion in additional funding by the 2035/36 fiscal year. A less costly alternative, mirroring a Scottish-style system that offers basic protection against some care costs for all, would be estimated to cost around £7 billion by 2035/36 if implemented in England, according to the same think tank.
During his campaign for Makerfield, Burnham reiterated his stance on social care reform but has not yet provided further specifics on how such a plan would be put into practice. The challenge of improving England's social care system has been a persistent issue for politicians for many years. While the Labour party pledged to overhaul the system when in opposition, upon taking office, they commissioned a review of funding that is not scheduled to deliver its report until 2028. Burnham has indicated that he would seek to expedite this timeline, aiming for a conclusion by the end of the current year.