Andy Burnham has promised to move faster than Keir Starmer, vowing to spend political capital on fixing social care. But his ability to deliver rapid reform may be constrained by public finances and a state machinery that Starmer himself found gummed-up by procedures and consultations.
Starmer, who lasted 18 months in No 10 before losing power, complained to MPs about the "speed and the ability to get things done", blaming successive governments for adding layers of process to avoid mistakes. Pollster Julian Gallie said voters have been "crying out for change for a decade", pointing to Brexit, the Corbyn surge, the Johnson majority and the 2024 Tory rout as desperate rolls of the dice against a stubborn status quo.
History suggests that political will alone is rarely enough. Franklin Roosevelt's first 100 days succeeded because of a banking collapse, not just eloquence. In 2008, a UK government that dithered over Northern Rock suddenly nationalised half the banking system when cashpoints were hours from running dry. The pandemic saw unbendable protocols swept aside overnight. Without an emergency, meaningful change has often stalled.
Starmer’s colleagues, including Lisa Nandy, hope Burnham will be "faster and bolder". Burnham, a former health secretary, has long been an advocate for a comprehensive care service. But every serious proposal — from cost caps to workforce upgrades — requires more spending. With tight public finances, the substitution of "political will" for "political won't" may not be enough.
Louise Casey, who chairs the independent commission on social care due to report in 2028, has noted the existence of 22 previous commissions and reviews on the issue. Burnham has said he will invest political capital in a solution, but whether he can requisition the resources needed at speed remains an open question.
