Labour conference live: Burnham to unveil funding for social care fix after refusing to rule out tax hikes

Labour conference live: Burnham to unveil funding for social care fix after refusing to rule out tax hikes The prime minister will pledge to hold an ‘honest conversation’ about tough issues - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join todayAlready a member? Log in Andy Burnham is set to unveil how the UK will pay for his social care reform plans after he said he was prepared to hike taxes. The prime minister pledged to fight the next election on creating an NHS-style social care system, funded by the taxpayer and free at the point of use. He told LBC on Monday that he would “reveal details” about the funding during his leadership speech on Tuesday after saying nothing was off the table to pay for the reforms. “I will put forward my ideas. If the country says 'go faster because there's a big consensus behind it', that would be one thing,” he said. “We'll have to debate this. We'll have to get Baroness Casey to set out the details of how it can be done.” The prime minister said it would “take time” to get the details right, but insisted he would “lay out a very clear path for the country” on Tuesday. According to the Health Foundation think tank, the care service could cost up to £18.5 billion a year in 2035/6. Blog paused overnight We have paused this blog overnight - coverage will continue in the morning. Burnham to suggest review of triple lock pension in his next manifesto Andy Burnham is reportedly considering a review of the triple lock pension to help pay for his social care reforms. According to reports, the prime minister will use his speech tomorrow to say that the triple lock could be altered after the general election. He said on Monday he would reveal how the government intended to pay for the NHS-style social care system he pledged. Lord Blunkett, a former work and pensions secretary, told The Telegraph that Mr Burnham should look to axe the triple lock more quickly, potentially raising up to £22bn by 2030. But the prime minister has also been warned that scrapping the triple lock could be “almost electoral suicide”. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, told The Times: “I think it would be an absolute disaster, it would send completely the wrong message. I cannot understand why we keep going back to pensioners.” Trump ‘surprised’ as five terror suspects released on bail after RAF Fairford plot Trump ‘surprised’ as five terror suspects released on bail after RAF Fairford plot Burnham to reveal details of how government will pay for social care tomorrow Andy Burnham has said he will reveal details of how the government will pay for his social care reform plans in his leadership speech on Tuesday. The prime minister told LBC he will “lay out a very clear path for the country” and “reveal details” about the funding for the NHS-style social care system. He said on Sunday that he was prepared to make unpopular choices and hike taxes. “I will put forward my ideas. If the country says 'go faster because there's a big consensus behind it', that would be one thing,” he said. “We'll have to debate this. We'll have to get Baroness Casey to set out the details of how it can be done.” "It will take time, I'm afraid, to get the detail right, but 2030 is the target date." Analysis: Healey needs to cut welfare. But he’s learnt from Starmer’s failures The chancellor used his Labour conference speech to retable Rachel Reeves’ welfare cuts – but in an authentic Labour way, political editor David Maddox writes: Healey needs to cut welfare. But he’s learnt from Starmer’s failures 'National interest should not be dictated by terrorists', says senior minister A senior minister has said that “national interest should not be dictated by terrorist actions or potential terrorist actions” amid questions over whether the US should continue to use RAF Fairford. Asked about whether the US, who use the base, should continue, Douglas Alexander told Sky News: “Well, the compass by which we should navigate choices in relation to airbases in the United Kingdom should be Britain's national interest. “And Britain's national interest should not be dictated by terrorist actions or potential terrorist actions. It should be motivated and dictated by a clear-eyed sense of Britain's national interest. “Of course, there will be noises off. There will be opposition politicians who are trying to gain political advantage. But I think we need a steady hand at the tiller. “And I expect that as more information emerges from this very serious incident, we'll find out a lot more in the days ahead.” Watch: Trump suggests Iran ‘might be’ behind RAF Fairford plot as he questions bail decision Watch: Burnham fights back tears discussing father’s recent death live on air Burnham to announce new GB Grid in bid to bring energy costs down The prime minister is poised to establish a new publicly owned “Great British Grid” that he hopes will bring UK energy costs down and support his reindustrialisation agenda. He is expected to announce the plans in his leader’s speech on Tuesday, insisting that the move will give “more public control” to help reform the “broken energy market”. The GB Grid will be a new body under the Great British Energy umbrella that will be the first publicly owned player in electricity networks since privatisation under Margaret Thatcher. He expects it to bring British energy costs down in line with European nations within 10 years. Mr Burnham will say it aims to boost competition and speed up grid connections for businesses – which have complained about how delays have hampered investment. “We have a cost crisis. We all know it. The price of energy is crippling for businesses, and British billpayers pay some of the highest energy costs in Europe,” he will say. “We have an energy system where prices are dictated in markets miles away, while families and businesses here shoulder the costs. Once again, the British public has lost control. “Within 10 years, I want our energy costs to be in line with other nations in Europe. That means we must reform a broken energy market so it serves the public interest.” Not a 'cigarette paper between Burnham and Healey' on cutting welfare There is not “a cigarette paper between Andy Burnham and John Healey” when it comes to cutting welfare, a senior minister has insisted. Pressed on whether the prime minister would back the chancellors calls to cut welfare, Douglas Alexander told Sky News: “I have the benefit of having talked to Andy recently about the whole issue of welfare reform. If you saw the passion in private with which he talked about the work that Alan Milburn in particular is taking forward... I'm pretty confident that both the prime minister and the chancellor understand the need to reform the welfare system on the foundation of Labour values. “But exactly as our new defence secretary, Wes Streeting, has observed, a responsibility to national security is not contingent upon specific judgements made within other departmental budgets. It's an absolute responsibility that we will discharge.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments