Andy Burnham must set out his approach to health and social care “within days” of taking office, the over-60s campaign group Silver Voices has demanded. The group warned that the sector is in “chaotic limbo” as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to step down as Prime Minister, with Burnham set to take over on July 20.
Silver Voices Calls for Urgent Clarity
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said: “Like many other Labour policies, reform of social care is in chaotic limbo, and Andy Burnham must clarify his approach within days of taking office.” He criticised Baroness Casey, who is leading a commission into adult social care in England, accusing her of “going rogue” by ignoring Burnham’s promise to telescope the timetable for recommendations and rejecting the key Labour manifesto pledge to set up a National Care Service.
Reed added: “She is about to launch an expensive, facile and unnecessary Big Conversation on social care, which smacks of being a vanity project, and must be halted. Those millions of older people waiting in pain and indignity for decent social care in their own homes deserve better than this and are looking to Andy Burnham to come good on his promises.”
Burnham's Welfare Stance
Burnham, who is set to become prime minister on July 20 after Sir Keir quit amid a swathe of controversies, has said he wants to see a “fair and lasting” reduction to the UK’s welfare bill. This comes amid rising spending on health and disability benefits in recent years. However, he has not set out plans to change the level of benefits payments or the criteria for receiving them.
In an online question-and-answer session on Reddit on July 3, the Makerfield MP affirmed his commitment to the triple lock, a policy introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government. The triple lock guarantees the state pension rises each year in line with either inflation, wage increases, or 2.5% – whichever is the highest.
Previous Calls for Reform
Health Secretary James Murray has previously been urged by Silver Voices to speed up reforms to social care. The group’s latest demand comes as the sector faces ongoing challenges, with millions of older people awaiting improved services.
