Burnham doesn't rule out tax rises to fix social care
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to reform adult social care in England, acknowledging that tax increases may be necessary to fund the overhaul. He is seeking cross-party support to address the long-standing crisis in the care sector.
Why it matters
Addresses a critical domestic policy issue in the UK with significant implications for public spending and the aging population.
Image source, Reuters By Richard Wheeler Political reporter Published 29 July 2026, 14:57 BST Updated 2 minutes ago Andy Burnham has promised to end decades of government inaction by fixing adult social care in England - and did not rule out tax rises to help pay for it.
The prime minister said it was a "major dereliction of public duty" that successive governments had failed to address the crisis, adding there would be "difficult decisions" on funding but he was determined to "get it right."
His plans include a new national care service, with more pay and better training for care workers, and closer integration with the NHS.
He announced that a review of social care by veteran Whitehall troubleshooter Baroness Casey would now be published next summer instead of 2028.
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