Story perspectives

Burnham pledges free universal social-care service, needs tax rise

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 2:23 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham opened his first Labour Party conference in Liverpool, pledging a universal social-care service.
Burnham said service would be free at the point of use and funded by taxpayers, requiring tax rise.
A Liberty poll found three in five voters say a party’s free-speech stance will affect their next-general-election vote.
Deputy leader Lucy Powell urged Labour to reunite the progressive voter coalition to win the next election.

History

Historical Context

When Labour won the 1945 election, Clement Attlee’s government created the welfare state and launched the National Health Service in 1948, treating 8.5 million dental patients and providing over 5 million spectacles in its first year. Today Manchester’s Labour leader Andy Burnham is calling for a taxpayer-funded universal social-care service, echoing the post-war aim of free, comprehensive care.

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Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham opened his first Labour Party conference in Liverpool, pledging a universal social-care service.
Burnham said service would be free at the point of use and funded by taxpayers, requiring tax rise.
A Liberty poll found three in five voters say a party’s free-speech stance will affect their next-general-election vote.
Deputy leader Lucy Powell urged Labour to reunite the progressive voter coalition to win the next election.

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