Andy Burnham has signalled he is willing to raise taxes to pay for a better elderly care system, saying England’s current set‑up is as unfair as American healthcare. He wants to stop people having to sell homes for care, noting that reform would “require difficult decisions” on funding.

On Wednesday he asked Baroness Louise Casey to bring a review to next year and said he will raise care workers’ pay closer to NHS levels, citing chronic staff shortages and reliance on international recruitment of 30,000 migrants in 2025‑26.

Burnham stresses that 1.9mn people do not qualify for state‑funded care and that one in seven faces costs of more than £100,000. Those with assets above £23,250 receive no help, describing ageing as a roulette wheel that can erase savings.

He supports a centrally funded national care service free at the point of use, encourages cross‑party agreement, and says he will not be deterred by headlines about tax rises.