Andy Burnham hints at new 'death tax' push to pour billions into social care as he vows it must be free at the point of use

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By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR and DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 09:24 BST, 27 September 2026 | Updated: 10:41 BST, 27 September 2026

Andy Burnham today suggested he will introduce a new 'death tax' that can raise billions to to fund an NHS-style social care system, insisting it must be free at the point of delivery.

The Prime Minister said he is ready to 'grasp the nettle' and create a National Care Service, even if it makes him  'unpopular' after years of wrangling over how to improve support. 

Mr Burnham has said the death of his father Roy last week – who required care because of his Alzheimer's – fuelled his determination to deal with social care's problems. 

Appearing on the BBC as Labour conference kicks off in Liverpool, Mr Burnham said the change would be part of Labour's manifesto at the next general election.

In a sign that some tax rises would be required, Mr Burnham said Labour's 2024 manifesto promises made it 'hard to do in this Parliament' so he would put his proposals to the public in the next election expected in 2029.

'I am prepared to put myself in that position, recognising that it might be difficult or unpopular with some,' he said.

Tory shadow minister Chris Philp said: 'We do not support tax increases. This country is already taxed too highly.'

Andy Burnham today insisted social care must be free at the point of delivery - but refused to say when and admitted there will be huge costs

A care service which, like the NHS, is free at the point of use could cost up to £18.5 billion a year in 2035/6, the Health Foundation think tank has estimated.

Mr Burnham rejected that assessment and pointed out there would be savings to the NHS from people who no longer needed emergency treatment or a hospital bed because they had better social care provision.

He added: 'People are paying care charges now. They are spending tens of thousands of pounds from their savings, sometimes losing their homes.

'That is what's happening at the moment. So to suggest there isn't a cost to people at this moment in time, there's a huge cost.

'Social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare, where the most vulnerable in society can lose everything, they can be wiped out, not just by the condition that they have, but wiped out financially.' 

Mr Burnham told the BBC social care must be run on NHS principles.

That would mean 'everyone contributes, everyone is covered', although he stressed Baroness Casey has been tasked with coming up with precise proposals.

Mr Burnham said his speech to conference on Tuesday will lay out a 'vision', but the ruled out changes before the general election - insisting it will need public approval. 

'I won't leave office without having grasped this nettle,' he told the Mirror in another interview.

Mr Burnham added: 'It is a priority for me, and I will face it. And it may make me unpopular, but I'm going to do it.'