For the past few weeks, PM Andy Burnham has stepped into Downing Street with the confidence and urgency of a leader determined to reshape the country he now governs. From forging new international alliances to unveiling sweeping domestic reforms, the new Prime Minister has wasted little time in setting out his vision for Britain’s future.
Burnham’s India call raises big promises and bigger questions
Andy Burnham spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, in a call framed by warm words about the UK-India partnership but light on detail about what new commitments will follow.
Burnham highlighted the strength of ties between the two countries and pointed to the UK-India Vision 2035 framework, alongside people-to-people links, as evidence of a relationship he wants to deepen.
The Prime Minister also praised the contribution of Indian communities in the UK, while Modi referred to the historic connection between Manchester and Ahmedabad, describing the Gujarat city as the “Manchester of India”.
Trade was presented as a central pillar of the discussion, with Burnham citing the recently introduced UK-India Free Trade Agreement as a route to new opportunities. Yet the call offered little public clarity on how quickly those benefits will reach businesses and communities on the ground.
On technology, Burnham reaffirmed his personal commitment to the UK-India Technology Security Initiative, with both leaders noting potential cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence.
The discussion also moved to the Middle East, where both leaders agreed to continue working towards de-escalation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a reminder that the partnership is increasingly being tested by global security pressures as well as trade ambitions.
Yet Burnham’s most immediate political test remains closer to home: repairing England’s struggling social care system.
A war against England’s social care system
The Prime Minister has placed social care reform at the heart of his government’s agenda, declaring the current system “broken” and pledging to end what he described as an unfair model where vulnerable people and their families shoulder devastating financial costs.
Comparing England’s social care system to the inequalities of US healthcare, Burnham argued that decades of political hesitation had left millions facing uncertainty, with some families forced to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on care.
“Social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare,” he said, warning that those in greatest need often “pay with everything” and risk being left with nothing.
Speaking at a care home in north London, Burnham described the failure to reform social care as a “major dereliction of public duty” and vowed that his government would confront the challenge rather than allow it to worsen as Britain’s population ages.
Drawing inspiration from the NHS model, Burnham proposed moving towards a system where care is treated as a universal public service rather than a personal financial burden. He said his government would launch a major review of the sector, create a new care workforce strategy and strengthen the links between social care and the NHS.
However, the Prime Minister acknowledged that meaningful reform would require difficult choices, including potentially raising taxes, while insisting that political “scare stories” would not prevent action.
“We will be honest with people about those,” he said, while maintaining his commitment not to increase certain personal taxes set out in Labour’s manifesto.
A personal mission shaped by family experience
For Burnham, the battle to reform social care is not just political, it is deeply personal.
He has spoken openly about his father’s experience with Alzheimer’s, saying it strengthened his determination to address what he called Britain’s “shameful” record on care.
His own past attempts at reform have shaped his approach. As health secretary in 2010, Burnham tried to tackle social care funding but faced political opposition. This time, he has pledged to build a cross-party consensus, reaching out to Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in the hope of finding a long-term solution.
The Prime Minister has also raised concerns about the role of private providers in the sector, criticising profiteering, poor conditions and cost-cutting practices that he said were “fundamentally unacceptable”.
Unlike the NHS, which is free at the point of use, England’s social care system is delivered through a complex mix of private companies, charities, local authorities and care providers. The cost burden depends heavily on an individual’s wealth and level of need. Privately funded care can cost around £1,400 a week, while councils may pay about £1,000 for similar support, leaving many families struggling to bridge the gap.
Burnham believes a national care service, integrated more closely with the NHS, could ease pressure on both systems while ensuring dignity and security for older and vulnerable people.
He pledged to improve pay, training and professional recognition for care workers, saying too many people carrying out vital work are still being paid "poverty pay". His government will also review the financial threshold for accessing state-funded social care.
Having staked his political capital on reform, the Prime Minister now faces one of the biggest tests of his leadership: turning a long-promised ambition into a reality.
Care leaders’ give verdict
Cautiously backing Burnham’s care revolution, providers say the real test will come in the detail. While a National Care Service could bring investment, dignity and stronger standards, care leaders warn that reform will only succeed if it brings independent providers to the table and delivers the funding needed to sustain quality care.
Pranav Vora, CEO–Director of Aum Care Group UK Ltd, has welcomed Andy Burnham’s social care reform plans but urged the government to recognise the role of independent providers.
“As someone who runs a care organisation every day, I welcome reforms that genuinely improve care for people and value the workforce,” Vora said. “Better pay, stronger training, and closer working with the NHS are all positive steps.”
However, he warned that the independent sector, which delivers the majority of adult social care, must be central to any future system. “Any new model must work with providers like us, not around us,” he said.
Vora added, “Independent organisations have invested heavily in recruiting staff, embracing technology, and delivering flexible, personalised care. But my biggest concern is funding. If providers are expected to pay higher wages and meet new standards without fair commissioning rates, many will struggle financially.”
He said a successful National Care Service must “bring together the NHS, local authorities and independent providers” to create sustainable, high-quality care.
Terri Evans of Red Apple Care said Andy Burnham’s proposed social care reforms could bring “significant opportunities” for the sector but warned that the future role of independent care providers would depend on how the plans are implemented.
“Andy Burnham’s proposed reforms could have both positive and challenging implications for the independent care sector,” Evans said. “The creation of a National Care Service has the potential to increase investment in social care, improve workforce training, raise professional standards and make careers in care more attractive.”
She said a stronger focus on skills, pay and career development could help tackle long-standing workforce pressures. “This could help organisations like ours recruit and retain skilled staff while improving the quality of care delivered,” she added.
However, Evans highlighted concerns over the place of private providers within a future National Care Service. “There is also uncertainty about the future role of private providers,” she said. “If the National Care Service places greater emphasis on publicly delivered or not-for-profit services, private care organisations may face increased competition for contracts, tighter regulation and changes to funding arrangements.”
She warned that improved employment conditions for care workers, while welcome, would need to be matched with sustainable funding.
