Andy Burnham invites Tories and Lib Dems to cross‑party social care summit

New Labour prime minister Andy Burnham has called an emergency summit on social care, inviting Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey to Downing Street on Wednesday 29 July 2026. The meeting aims to prevent a looming collapse of the NHS by finding a cross‑party solution to England’s long‑standing care crisis.

Burnham framed the gathering as a test of “problem‑solving, not point‑scoring” politics. For him, the stakes are immediate: without reform, the pressure on hospitals and families could become unmanageable.

Media additions

“Last week I said we needed a different kind of politics: problem‑solving, not point‑scoring. Nowhere is that more urgent than social care.”

Andy Burnham, prime minister, via Yahoo Canada

The agenda will be overseen by health secretary Yvette Cooper and Baroness Louise Casey, who leads the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care. Casey will also launch the “Big Conversation on Care”, an online platform that invites the public to shape the future of a National Care Service.

“Fixing adult social care is about far more than money. People are already paying for failure through council tax, pressure on the NHS, their savings, giving up work, and the forced sale of their homes.”

Baroness Louise Casey, Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, via The Independent

The summit arrives amid mounting fiscal pressure. Burnham’s government faces £2 billion of commitments on VAT‑free energy bills, a £2 bus‑fare cap and a 20 per cent reduction in business rates for pubs and clubs. A leading think‑tank has warned that inflation is set to rise to almost 4 per cent next year and that the Treasury’s borrowing capacity has been exhausted, meaning any new spending will have to come from tax rises or cuts.

Defence spending is expected to require a further £5 billion to £18 billion to meet international commitments, and there are suggestions the prime minister may turn to war bonds to bridge the gap.

Both opposition leaders have signalled conditional support. Badenoch told reporters she will work with Burnham but will not back any new tax rises for care. Davey, whose party has long advocated for cross‑party talks on the issue, said “nothing matters more” than finding a workable solution.

“There have been 22 failed attempts at reforming social care since 1997. To see the 23rd effort work, we need to do things differently.”

Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader, via The Independent

The Conservatives’ shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew warned that Labour cannot rely on vague promises without a clear implementation plan.

“Andy Burnham and Labour cannot rely on vague promises of reform without a clear plan for implementation and detail on what will happen when.”

Stuart Andrew, Tory shadow health secretary, via Yahoo Canada

Burnham’s outreach also revives a policy debate from his 2009 tenure as health secretary. At that time he proposed a levy on deceased estates to fund care – a proposal the Conservatives later labelled a “death tax”. Reform UK has seized on the summit to accuse the prime minister of reviving that plan, a charge the Downing Street immediately denied.

While Reform UK was left out of the talks, the party’s recent rise in the polls – having led for 15 months until Labour overtook it this week – shows the political appetite for a fresh approach to care.

Key points of the summit

• Morning: Burnham’s speech at a north‑London care home, outlining the need for cross‑party cooperation.
• Mid‑day: Formal round‑table with Badenoch, Davey, Cooper and Casey to set the framework for a National Care Service.
• Afternoon: Launch of the “Big Conversation on Care” online platform.
• Evening: Publication of a joint statement committing to a tax‑neutral financing model, subject to parliamentary approval.

What to watch next

Date	Event
29 July 2026	Cross‑party summit and launch of public consultation.
Early August 2026	First round of public responses on the online platform.
Mid‑September 2026	Parliamentary debate on financing options, including potential war bonds.
October 2026	Publication of the Independent Commission’s recommendations.

The outcomes of the summit will shape not only the future of social care but also the broader fiscal strategy of Burnham’s administration. If the parties can agree on a funding route that avoids new tax hikes, it could spare defence spending from severe cuts. Conversely, a stalemate may force the prime minister to revisit unpopular measures, reigniting criticism from Reform UK and other opponents.

Burnham’s invitation marks a rare moment of overt collaboration across the Westminster aisle. Whether the talks produce a lasting reform or become another chapter in a string of “failed attempts” remains to be seen, but the stakes – from hospital capacity to the financial security of millions of households – ensure the debate will dominate the political calendar in the weeks ahead.

For ongoing coverage see our Politics page and the dedicated piece on the prime minister’s warning that the NHS could collapse without care reform.