Prime Minister Andy Burnham has disclosed that his father, Kenneth Roy Burnham, who has Alzheimer's, does not know his son became Prime Minister. The revelation came during an emotional speech on adult social care reform at Jewish Care in Enfield, north London on July 29.
“Why am I doing this? For my dad and millions of people like him up and down the country,” Burnham said, his voice shaking slightly. He admitted “difficult decisions” on tax might be needed but vowed to “be honest with people” and “do more” within existing budgets first.
Accelerated Review and Cross-Party Talks
Burnham announced he had accelerated Baroness Louise Casey’s review of social care, so it will now report next year. He promised reforms to improve the “strength and the capability” of the social care workforce and said he would begin cross-party talks with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
He described adult social care practice as a “question of standards” and said some companies were more concerned with “profiteering”, but praised aspects of the system, particularly the care workers looking after his father.
Emotional Tribute to Carers
“And I see so much good in terms of the journey that we've been on. And I am talking about the people who've cared for my dad. Hundreds of them – we've seen and we've watched,” Burnham said. He said he had been “overwhelmed by their care” and their skills, calling it “humbling to watch them caring for someone else's dad or someone else's mum”.
“If you think about that, you know, bringing all of that to the care of someone else's relative, it's just an incredible thing, isn't it?” he added.
Pay Parity and Workforce Reform
The Prime Minister said carers “should be the best paid people in society, not the worst”, announcing the government could reform pay, training and progression for social care staff to bring it in line with the broader NHS. He acknowledged many carers come from other countries: “I want those carers to know we appreciate you. We appreciate what you are doing to support people here.
“And it really matters that I say that as well. There is so much to be proud of.” Burnham appeared visibly emotional as he praised staff for bringing out the best in his father.
Personal Connection to Reform
Burnham described watching carers communicate with his father: “They're able to catch a kind of a moment of his old character. It comes out because of the way they draw in the conversation and that is an amazing talent to have.” He highlighted the skill involved in transferring his father from wheelchair to armchair without distress.
Reforming social care is unfinished business for Burnham. In 2010 as Health Secretary, he proposed a levy on death to pay for care, which the Conservatives denounced as a “death tax”. Since then, Theresa May proposed raising the care threshold to £100,000, labelled a “dementia tax”. Sir Keir Starmer set up the Casey commission but did not advance proposals.
