Successive prime ministers have pledged to tackle some of the biggest crises affecting old and young: the UK’s lack of vocational training and the chaos of social care. Now it’s the turn of the latest PM Andy Burnham. In an impassioned speech he set out his ambition for a cross-party solution on social care but gave scant detail about how to fund it. Will this be the hill that Burnham dies on? Host Miranda Green is joined by deputy political editor Jim Pickard, north of England correspondent Jennifer Williams and the FT’s public policy editor Chris Smyth to discuss. Plus, another ambitious plan to overhaul education, the ‘Burnham bounce’, and what exactly is a PuFin?
FOLLOW:
Miranda: @greenmiranda & @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; Chris: @Smyth_Chris; Jim: @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social and Jen: @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social
Want more?
Andy Burnham opens door to tax rises to pay for social care overhaul
The Burnham bounce shouldn’t come as a surprise
Andy Burnham to give English mayors share of income tax from 2028
What are PuFins and how do Andy Burnham and John Healey plan to use them?
Andy Burnham aims to cut welfare bill by getting young people into work
You can also sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter ‘Inside Politics’ for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.
Political Fix was presented by Miranda Green and produced by Clare Williamson and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Original music by Breen Turner with audio mix by Sean McGarrity. Flo Phillips is the FT’s head of audio.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.