Burnham to put free-at-use care service to voters in 2029

Andy Burnham says he plans to put a taxpayer-funded national social care service, free at the point of use, to voters at the next general election, expected in 2029. He has not set out a detailed funding plan, and said Labour’s current manifesto commitments make it difficult to introduce the reforms during this Parliament. Burnham said the proposed service would be based on the principle that everyone contributes and everyone is covered, though not necessarily in the same way as the NHS. He said the public should decide on the reforms at the next election and that he was willing to pursue changes despite the possibility they could be unpopular. The proposal would change how care is paid for in England, where people can currently face charges that draw on their savings and, in some cases, the value of their homes. Burnham has argued that spreading costs across the population could make the system fairer. He has not identified which taxes or other contributions he would use. Asked whether an estate levy was an option, Burnham said he had not ruled one out, while clarifying that this did not mean he was returning directly to a proposal he made in 2010.