PM Burnham Vows to Tackle Social Care, Youth Jobs & Devolution
PM Burnham Vows to Tackle Social Care, Youth Jobs & Devolution
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham is kicking off his term with ambitious plans to fix adult social care, youth unemployment, and devolve power. Can he deliver on these long-standing issues?
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is hitting the ground running in his first week, signaling a determined effort to tackle some of Britain’s most entrenched problems: adult social care, youth unemployment, and devolution. A No 10 source indicated that Burnham possesses the “courage to fix the most difficult issues that have been ignored for years and seen as impossible to resolve.”
Central to his agenda is the pressing issue of social care. Unlike the NHS, social care is not free, and individuals with savings exceeding £23,250 are currently ineligible for local council assistance. This challenge has plagued successive governments, with past leaders like Boris Johnson pledging to fix it in 2019, and Keir Starmer facing criticism in July 2024 for scrapping plans for an £86,000 cap on personal care costs.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, a long-time advocate for social care reform, called for a “real effort to end the social care catastrophe” and stressed the need for cross-party consensus. Burnham swiftly responded on social media, agreeing to work together. However, questions about funding are already emerging. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake directly asked, “Where’s the money coming from, Andy? We’re all dying to know.”
Beyond social care, Burnham has also unveiled a series of immediate pledges. These include commitments to end rough sleeping in England, cut VAT from domestic electricity bills within the current financial year, and reduce the cap on bus fares outside of London from £3 to £2 starting in January. His government also plans to cut business rates for pubs and clubs, signaling a broader intent to support local economies and everyday costs.
As the new Prime Minister sets out his ambitious vision, the focus remains on how these significant reforms will be funded and implemented, especially given the history of previous governments struggling with these complex national challenges. The coming weeks will likely reveal more details on his approach to these critical issues.
