Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated a willingness to implement a new tax on inheritances or estates, a policy he refers to as a 'death tax,' to generate billions of pounds. The revenue would be directed towards establishing a National Care Service, intended to provide social care free at the point of delivery, akin to the National Health Service (NHS).
Burnham stated that he is not concerned about the potential for such a policy to make him unpopular. The proposal is the subject of a poll in The Morning Poll, inviting public opinion on whether individuals should contribute more through inheritance or estate taxes to fund the proposed National Care Service. The results of this poll are scheduled to be published in the Morning Mail newsletter.
This initiative aims to address the funding challenges within the social care sector, with the goal of ensuring accessibility and affordability for all citizens.