ADASS responds to Andy Burnham’s conference speech

Responding to Andy Burnham’s adult social care announcement during his speech at the Labour Party Conference 2026, ADASS President Phil Holmes said:

“It’s good to see the Government’s commitment to break the deadlock on adult social care reform and to put forward proposals for a universal system in which everyone who needs care can get it. 

“But we cannot afford to wait until the next General Election in 2029 or the recommendations of the Casey Commission in 2027 to act. There is much that government, councils and the wider social care sector can do now to lay the foundations for fundamental reform – including making housing a central part of the social care solution, unfreezing the capital thresholds so more people can access state-funded support, and investing in councils so they are financially stable. 

“Successive governments have failed to fix social care, we hope this marks an opportunity to put party politics aside, build consensus and finally deliver the fundamental reform that people who draw on care and support, carers and the workforce have waited far too long to see.”