Andy Burnham has said proposed social care reforms would be funded by new taxes after a General Election, outlining a system in which everyone contributes and everyone is covered.
Burnham said his proposed national care service would be free at the point of use and funded by taxpayers. He also said the current Labour manifesto did not allow him to carry out the reforms.
Plan could be presented at next election
The Prime Minister said a plan for a national care service would be presented at the next election, which may not take place until 2029.
Baroness Louise Casey is conducting a review of national care and is expected to publish recommendations next year. Those recommendations could include a new system for tax rises.
The Telegraph reported that government officials were considering adding a levy on top of income tax to fund a national social care service.
Burnham says reform may require political capital
Burnham said the proposed system would cover everyone and require contributions from everyone, although contributions would not necessarily be made in exactly the same way as for the NHS.
He said Parliament was ignoring social care because politicians considered the issue too difficult. Burnham also said he would pursue reform despite the possibility that it could make him unpopular and require him to spend political capital.
He is expected to discuss social care further at Labour’s conference in Liverpool over the following three days.
Funding debate
The proposed funding could create conflict between Burnham and leading economists, who have warned that a rising tax burden is damaging activity and hiring levels in the UK economy.
The Prime Minister rejected suggestions that the reforms would cost an additional £18bn per year, saying the costs were not that high. The Prime Minister also said social care in England was as unfair as American healthcare and criticised Westminster politicians for failing to fix basic care provision.
Burnham has ruled out calling a snap election before 2029 and said speculation about an election within the next year would be ended.
The Prime Minister said he was aware of the febrile state of the global economy and would announce potential cuts on Tuesday to demonstrate a willingness to take difficult decisions.
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Source: City AM
