Key facts
- Andy Burnham stated there would be no early general election.
- Burnham proposed a national care system integrated with the NHS.
- Burnham indicated that funding for the social care plan would be detailed later.
- Chris Philp criticized Burnham's proposal as a "death and dementia tax".
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, used his platform at the Labour Party conference to address speculation about an early general election and to outline his vision for social care. He clarified that an early election was not planned, dismissing media speculation. Burnham then focused on social care, a policy area he described as the "hill he would die on." He proposed the creation of a national care system that would integrate with the existing NHS, aiming to provide a more sustainable and dignified solution for individuals and families struggling with the costs and complexities of long-term care.
Burnham suggested that while the specifics of funding would be revealed in due course and would form a key part of Labour's campaign for the 2029 general election, the public was already effectively paying for the current inadequate system. He shared a personal anecdote about his mother selling her house to fund her care, highlighting the financial burden on families. He expressed a hope for cross-party cooperation on the issue, a sentiment quickly challenged by Conservative politician Chris Philp, who derided the proposal as a "death and dementia tax."