Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has formally written to the prime minister, urging him to rule out any potential tax rises or increased borrowing as a strategy to fund social care reform. While Badenoch expressed a willingness to collaborate on a solution, she emphasized that her support is contingent upon adhering to two core principles: finding the necessary funding through the reduction of existing spending and avoiding any tax increases or borrowing that would ultimately burden future generations.
In her letter sent on Sunday, Badenoch highlighted the current economic climate, noting that with businesses closing or relocating, youth unemployment rates exceeding those of the eurozone, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, Britain cannot afford further tax hikes. She acknowledged that social care is a significant issue but noted that achieving a durable consensus has historically proven difficult. The prime minister is expected to deliver a speech on adult social care this week, with a source from No 10 indicating that the move is part of his broader plan to tackle long-neglected problems.
The issue of adult social care has been a recurring challenge for successive governments. Andy Burnham, who serves as prime minister, first proposed a universal social care system in England in 2009 during his tenure as health secretary under Gordon Brown. He has since vowed to dedicate significant political capital to the cause. Previous attempts to address the crisis include a 2019 pledge by then-prime minister Boris Johnson to fix the system once and for all. More recently, in July 2024, Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash after the Labour government scrapped plans for an £86,000 cap on personal lifetime care costs.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has also weighed in, calling for a genuine effort to end what he described as a social care catastrophe. Davey emphasized the need for cross-party consensus and expressed hope that the prime minister would be open to collaboration. In response to Davey's comments on social media, the prime minister confirmed his willingness to work together to find common ground on the issue.
Secondly, she said the money must be found by reducing current spending and that Burnham "must rule out any tax rises or increased borrowing that will ultimately fall on the next generation to pay for".
He added: "I'll fight to ensure family carers aren't forgotten. We need cross-party consensus, and I hope the PM's door is open."
