Britain26 July, 20262 min read
Kemi Badenoch Urges Andy Burnham To Rule Out Tax Rises For Social Care Reform
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Badenoch urged Burnham to rule out tax rises or increased borrowing for social care reform. Funding should come from spending cuts, not tax rises.
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Badenoch’s two principles
Kemi Badenoch has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to "rule out any tax rises or increased borrowing" to fund social care reform in Britain. Badenoch said any reform must be funded by reducing current spending and must be fair to those who have "made provisions and saved up over the course of their lives."
The BBC said Burnham is expected to make a speech on adult social care this week as part of a plan described by a No 10 source to "run towards problems that have been neglected." The Independent reported Badenoch’s letter challenged Burnham ahead of an expected intervention this week, arguing that previous administrations had "neglected" how adult social care works and is funded in England.
Funding fight and costs
Badenoch told Burnham that the money must be found by reducing current spending and that he "must rule out any tax rises or increased borrowing that will ultimately fall on the next generation to pay for." The BBC linked her argument to economic pressures, saying she wrote that "With businesses closing or relocating, youth unemployment higher than in the eurozone, and the cost of living already causing real hardship for many people" Britain should avoid further tax increases for social care.
The Independent said social care is not free at the point of use and that people with savings worth more than £23,250 are not entitled to help with the cost of care from their local council. The Times framed Badenoch’s position as insisting social care should be funded through cuts rather than taxes, with the paper stating she "insists" on that approach.
Cross-party pressure
The BBC reported that Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said on Saturday, "This has to be the start of a real effort to end the social care catastrophe."
“This has to be the start of a real effort to end the social care catastrophe.”
Davey added, "I'll fight to ensure family carers aren't forgotten. We need cross-party consensus, and I hope the PM's door is open," as Burnham prepared to respond.
Burnham replied to Davey on X, writing, "It most certainly is, Ed. Let's work together to find some common ground."
The Independent said Burnham has pledged to "use some of my political capital" on overhauling the system, while noting that previous governments promised and failed to deliver a durable consensus around social care.