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Wednesday, 29 July 2026

The mess we're in



Carers should be best paid in society, not the worst, says Burnham


Carers should be the best paid people in society, not the worst, Andy Burnham has said as he set out plans for sweeping reform of the social care system.

The prime minister said that social care in England was as unfair as American healthcare as he reflected on the many people forced to whittle down their pensions and savings to care for family members due to the current system...

The prime minister - who teared up as he spoke about his father who is currently receiving care for Alzheimer’s - said it was a “major dereliction of public duty” that politicians had failed for decades to resolve the crisis in social care.



By gum, Burnham is certainly distancing himself from Starmer the uncaring automaton. Taking it too far in my view, bringing in his unfortunate father and talking about a "major dereliction of public duty”. Somewhat distasteful I reckon, but he is a politician.

We may go on to ask what a "public duty" is, but it would be unwise to expect a coherent response other than more words embedded in an economically and socially incoherent ideology.

The mess we're in runs deeper than this.

8 comments:

dearieme said...

Maybe Eyeliner Andy is saying "That Kier fellow was a mummy's boy who hated his Dad but I am not." Though blubbing isn't much of an indicator of manliness. Hell, Rachel Reeves could blub.

DiscoveredJoys said...

Carers becoming better paid (whether justified or not) would almost certainly initiate industrial action by other groups of workers anxious to 'maintain their differentials'.

dearieme said...

And others claiming the same pay scale under the Equalities Act.

A K Haart said...

dearieme - but will he blub in the Commons like Rachel? The Speaker should keep tissues handy for Andy.

DJ and dearieme - yes, cans of worms are nothing compared to this.

Anonymous said...

Is this wonderful social care to be paid for with cuts from elsewhere or is the dosh to be found in the magic money tree (or the ever dwindling productive sector)?

A K Haart said...

Anon - it seems to be a way to soften us up for tax rises, social care being just another jam tomorrow promise.

Bucko said...

It's weird that they go on about social care being underfunded and needing higher taxes for it, yet they give millions to worthless charities who keep telling us to give up smoking, booze and unapproved foods, so that we can live as long as possible

A K Haart said...

Bucko - yes, it doesn't make sense and the constant hectoring doesn't improve the quality of life anyway.