Burnham pledges NHS-style social care amid Labour immigration row

Conference opens with new direction pledge

Andy Burnham has arrived in Liverpool for his first Labour Party conference as Prime Minister, with the party using the slogan Hope Again. He told supporters outside the venue that he would set out a clear new direction for the country on Tuesday. He said the decade since Brexit had brought too much drift and division, and that his focus would be on cost of living, growth in every postcode and hope in every heart. He also ruled out a snap general election before 2029, saying he wanted to kill speculation about an early vote.

Mood buoyant but tensions remain

The mood is more buoyant than last year, when Burnham was a potential leadership challenger and Keir Starmer was Prime Minister. Labour has regained its poll lead and Reform UK has had problems. But polling suggests Labour could lose much of its majority if an election were held now. Cabinet divisions are also on show. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, has repeated criticism of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's immigration plans. The plans would make foreign care workers and NHS staff wait longer, possibly 10 to 15 years instead of five, for indefinite leave to remain, and could apply the change to people already in the UK. Rayner said this moves the goalposts for people already here. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy denied a cabinet rift, saying ministers value foreign care workers but need to restore faith in the immigration system. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden backed Mahmood, saying permanent residence must be earned. A union leader supported Rayner. Peter Kyle, a former business secretary under Starmer, said the government is not doing enough to boost short-term economic growth and may need to sequence workers' rights.

Policy pledges and social care

Burnham used a Sunday interview to promise an NHS-style social care system in England. He said it should work on NHS principles, be free at the point of use and be universal, with a timetable set out this week. He linked the push to the death of his father and admitted the public finances are tight. Ministers are also announcing a package to revive high streets, paying initial wages for young people with disabilities going into work, and help for young people buying homes. The conference is likely to debate calls for a complete arms embargo on Israel, a motion describing Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide, and electoral reform.

Budget looms over conference

Chancellor John Healey will speak on Monday, with a focus on reindustrialisation, shipbuilding and British procurement. He is expected to highlight new floating docks at a Scottish submarine base and a £150m research vessel. But he faces pressure over borrowing costs, inflation and fuel prices, which the government says have been pushed up by the war with Iran. The autumn budget next month will be the real test of how Burnham's promises are funded. VAT has been removed from electricity bills, and there is speculation the Chancellor could freeze fuel duty. Borrowing costs have risen above 5 per cent, growth is weak, and borrowing is higher than expected, leaving tough decisions on tax and spending.