As Andy Burnham is set to become UK Prime Minister on Monday, many commentators and journalists are asking what his priorities in government will be. In a video posted on Facebook, the incoming Prime Minister speaks to voters in Cardiff city centre and mentions his plans for social care, saying that “if there’s one area I’m going to expend quite a lot of political capital, it’s going to be on social care.”

Emily Holzhausen CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, said:

"Andy Burnham is right to make social care an early priority as he prepares to take office as Prime Minister next week. Our adult social care system depends heavily on unpaid carers, who are providing increasing levels of care, often at significant personal cost. More than half (52%) of carers say the number of hours they spend caring each week has increased and nearly two thirds say they have no choice but to provide care because there are no suitable alternatives available.

“Access to high-quality, affordable social care is essential to enable carers to take a break and balance caring with other responsibilities. For more than a third (35%) of carers leaving employment, better social care support would have prevented them from reaching this tipping point. A lack of support is taking a serious toll on carers’ wellbeing with more than half (53%) feeling angry and frustrated about their situation, often because they cannot get the health and social care support they need.

“The Government must act now to invest in social care so that carers are no longer left to carry the growing weight of care alone. We look forward to seeing Andy Burnham set out how his government will deliver the meaningful reform that carers have waited far too long for.”