Andy Burnham, set to assume the role of Prime Minister today, has shared that his father, Roy, who is living with Alzheimer's, is unaware of his son's impending ascent to Number 10. Burnham stated that his father's condition means he also doesn't know that Burnham has embraced proportional representation, a cause his father championed.

Burnham drew upon his father's experience as he pledged to reform England's adult social care system, describing it as "the worst of all worlds" and a significant public priority. This commitment stems from his personal connection to the system's challenges.

During his time as health secretary in Gordon Brown's administration, Burnham previously attempted to reform social care in 2010. Those plans were met with significant opposition, including Conservative claims that they would necessitate a "death tax," which ultimately derailed the reform efforts. Burnham acknowledged that rectifying the system will "require something difficult" and has vowed to "expend political capital" during his premiership on this long-neglected sector.

In his first speech as Labour leader, Burnham emphasized the need for a problem-solving approach to address significant issues like social care, which he believes Westminster has avoided for too long. He argued that the current social care system is broken and impacts the NHS by failing to adequately support individuals, preventing them from leaving hospital.

The funding and operation of adult social care in England have historically been complex. Unlike NHS care, social care is not free at the point of use, and individuals with savings above £23,250 are not eligible for local council assistance, often forcing them to sell their homes to cover costs. Numerous reform attempts since 1997 have failed to address the foundational issues.

Burnham criticized the current system for its unfairness, stating that the more vulnerable individuals are, the more they tend to pay, leading to the loss of life savings. He expressed his belief in a universal social care system, akin to a national care service, and indicated that options for its funding would be explored. He also noted that past proposals, such as an £86,000 cap on personal care costs, were deemed undeliverable.

Burnham is due to officially take office as Prime Minister on Monday, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer.