Burnham Opens Cross-Party Push for Social-Care Reform in England

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to seek cross-party agreement on reforming adult social care in England, inviting senior Conservative and Liberal Democrat representatives to talks before outlining his approach on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.

Burnham is expected to accelerate an independent review led by Louise Casey rather than announce a finished funding model. Casey is also due to launch an online public consultation, described as the Big Conversation on Care, to gather views on the future of the system.

The government is considering options that range from care free at the point of use to a more limited model under which the state pays personal-care costs while individuals remain responsible for accommodation and food in care homes. Any broad expansion of public provision would require substantial long-term funding, with taxation likely to be central to the debate.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will not attend because of pre-planned minor surgery and is expected to send shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said his party would participate and called for family carers, access regardless of means and protection from catastrophic care costs to be central to any settlement. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was not invited.

Political agreement is uncertain. Conservatives questioned the short notice given for the meeting, while some Labour lawmakers have warned that ministers must carefully balance service quality, cost and the treatment of households that have saved for retirement.

The initiative addresses a long-running gap between England’s health and care systems. Recent figures cited in the source report showed an average of 13,600 people a day remained in hospital last month despite being medically fit to leave, with limited adult social-care capacity among the causes of delayed discharge.

Burnham has said the objective is to find common ground after repeated reform efforts failed. The next concrete steps will depend on the Casey review, the public consultation and whether the parties can agree on how expanded care should be funded.