Burnham prioritises social care and rejects early election

27.07.2026 09:02 HotInfo

New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, after taking office, is shifting the focus from initial measures against rising living costs to reforming social care. In his first major interview after arriving at Downing Street, he warned that without swift change the healthcare system could collapse, and pledged to use his political capital to tackle the long-delayed reform. The Guardian ↗

Burnham had previously announced a 20 percent cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues in England from April. The Cabinet estimates that a typical business will save around £1,100 in the next financial year. The first package also included steps to reduce electricity bills, a plan to cap single bus tickets in England at two pounds from January, and a review of discounts for venues labelled as antisocial. BBC News ↗

The question of funding social care, however, has already sparked political pressure. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called on the Prime Minister to rule out tax increases or further borrowing. Meanwhile, a group of 120 wealthy Britons, including Gary Lineker and Brian Eno, has asked the government to tax them more. BBC News ↗

At the same time, the Prime Minister rejected an early parliamentary election and continues efforts to move some decision-making outside London through the new No 10 North headquarters in Manchester. Regional mayors are set to gain more significant roles on the national economic council. Burnham has also suspended a plan for the early release of some prisoners and faces a request from the families of victims of the 1994 RAF Chinook helicopter crash for an independent review of the case. novinky.cz ↗

Further developments will depend largely on how the government presents the funding for social care and whether it can maintain the pace of its initial announcements without opening up new budgetary disputes. Independent ↗