Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has not ruled out the possibility of tax increases to fund reforms to the social care system in England. He previously proposed a universal system in 2009, which would have been funded by a compulsory levy.
Burnham stated that initial steps would focus on maximizing existing resources, particularly for the workforce, and that these would be fully funded. However, he acknowledged that a more comprehensive vision might require "difficult decisions" that would need to be presented to the public. "We will be honest with people about those, we will put them before the country at the right time, and we will hopefully proceed with people's consent," he said.
Adult social care provides state support for individuals needing assistance with daily living, unlike the National Health Service (NHS), which is free at the point of use. In England and Northern Ireland, individuals with savings above £23,250 are generally not eligible for council assistance with care costs, though rules differ in Wales and Scotland.
Burnham drew a parallel between the current social care system in England and American healthcare, describing it as unfair. "The vulnerable pay with everything and it can completely leave them with nothing," he commented. He expressed a desire for a system where individuals would not have to sell their homes to pay for care, a process he called "a really awful process." His earlier proposals aimed to prevent this by having "everybody on the NHS principle contributed a little, it would mean everybody could protect the majority of what they'd worked for."
He indicated that the question of public support for such an approach would be a subject for consultation.
Discussions are ongoing regarding social care reform, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reportedly holding cross-party talks. Burnham noted that there have been 22 unsuccessful attempts to advance social care reform over the past three decades. The Prime Minister has emphasized the need to "find common ground here if this is to be a lasting solution."
However, Conservative Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick criticized Burnham's approach, suggesting it signals an intention to "raid the little money that hundreds of thousands of regular people have struggled to save over their lifetimes." Jenrick added, "That's why he can't rule out the new universal death tax."
The Green Party's social care spokesperson, Ellie Chowns, urged Burnham to work collaboratively with other parties, including the Greens, to address the crisis in care if he is serious about implementing change.