New Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham delivered a first speech on social care this morning at Jewish Care's Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus in Golders Green, London.

The Prime Minister’s speech argued that social care is in crisis, because decades of political inaction have left millions without support, families overwhelmed, staff underpaid, and the NHS gridlocked. He praised care workers and good providers, drawing on his own family’s experience, and insisted that fixing social care is essential to restoring the NHS. He announced three actions:

• accelerating Baroness Casey’s review to design a National Care Service integrated with the NHS;
• immediate work to strengthen and uplift the social care workforce, including fair pay and career progression; and
• starting cross‑party talks to build a lasting consensus.

He framed the reform effort as a moral duty to the people receiving and providing care, and commited to pursuing it despite political risks.

Read the full speech | GOV.UK