New Prime Minister Must Grasp Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Fix Social Care

The Independent Care Group (iCG) has urged whoever succeeds Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister to be bold, honour Labour’s commitments and finally tackle the social care crisis that successive governments have failed to solve.

Commenting on the change in Labour’s leadership, iCG Honorary President Mike Padgham said:

“The change at the top of Government presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do what no Prime Minister has managed to achieve over the last three decades – put social care on a sustainable footing for the future.

“Whether it is Andy Burnham or another candidate who ultimately becomes Prime Minister, we simply ask them to be brave, be ambitious and be remembered as the leader who finally fixed social care.”

The iCG says the new Prime Minister should immediately commit to delivering Labour’s manifesto pledge to establish a National Care Service.

“The commitment was made to the country and should now be honoured. We have long argued that the answer lies in a National Care Service with one vision, one funding stream and one set of national priorities, sitting alongside the NHS as an equal partner.”

The iCG is also urging the incoming Prime Minister to ask Baroness Casey to bring forward her review and publish recommendations during 2026, with implementation beginning immediately thereafter and no later than the end of 2026.

“People receiving care, their families and the workforce cannot wait until 2028 for change. The sector is fragile, providers are struggling, staff remain undervalued and unpaid carers continue to carry an enormous burden. We need urgency, not further delay.

“The next Prime Minister should make social care an early priority and invite Baroness Casey to report this year so that meaningful reform can begin without further procrastination. The challenges facing social care are well known; what has been lacking is the political will to act decisively.”

Mr Padgham added:

“I have campaigned for social care reform for more than 30 years. We know many of the answers already. Providers, people who draw upon care, families and staff possess a wealth of practical expertise and solutions. The independent sector stands ready to work alongside ministers and officials to help this Government succeed where successive administrations of all political colours have failed.”

“The Independent Care Group and those working across the independent social care sector would be delighted to meet with the new Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity. We stand ready to share our experience, practical solutions and ideas to help them be bold, make a success of their premiership and, at long last, solve the social care challenge that has defeated governments of all political persuasions for far too long.”

“We are not short of answers in social care. What we have lacked is the political determination to act. We would welcome the chance to work alongside the Prime Minister and ministers to ensure this Government succeeds where others have not, creating a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

“Social care should no longer be the poor relation to the NHS. You cannot fix the NHS without fixing social care. The public deserves a modern, sustainable care system that values older and disabled people, supports families, rewards staff fairly and gives providers the confidence to invest for the future.”

“The next Prime Minister has the chance to achieve something truly historic – to create a National Care Service, honour Labour’s manifesto commitment, and finally give social care the status, investment and attention it deserves. We urge them to seize that opportunity.”

Prime Minister Must Make Social Care Reform the Legacy of This Government, Says Mike Padgham

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech today about the need for change and reform, Mike Padgham has urged the Government to bring forward long-overdue reforms to social care and make fixing the system the defining legacy of this Parliament.

Mr Padgham, Honorary President of Independent Care Group, said successive governments had failed to tackle the growing crisis in social care for decades and warned that the country could not afford any further delay.

He said:

“If the Prime Minister truly wants to deliver lasting change and create a legacy his government can be proud of, then social care reform must be at the very heart of it.

“For too long, governments of all colours have avoided dealing with the crisis in social care. The problems have been kicked down the road decade after decade whilst older and vulnerable people, unpaid carers and care providers have struggled to cope.

“This government now has the opportunity to be the one that finally grasps the nettle and delivers the reform the country desperately needs.

“Social care reform is not just overdue — it is urgent. Every day we delay, more people are left without the support they need, more unpaid carers are pushed to breaking point and more pressure is piled onto the NHS.

“If ministers are serious about change, they should bring reforms forward much earlier and stop waiting years for action. People need help now, not in another Parliament.

“Done properly, reform could transform lives, improve dignity and independence for millions of people and give families the quality of life they deserve.

“It would also give this Labour Government something genuinely historic to be proud of — finally fixing one of the biggest unresolved challenges facing our society.”

Mr Padgham said the scale of the crisis was clear from the growing pressures facing the sector.

England’s social care system continues to struggle with major workforce shortages, with around 130,000 vacancies reported across adult social care services in recent years.

At the same time, millions of unpaid carers are propping up the system. Census figures show around 5 million people in England and Wales provide unpaid care, with many giving the equivalent of full-time support every week.

Research has also shown unpaid carers are significantly more likely to suffer poor physical and mental health because of the pressures they face.

Mr Padgham added:

“We cannot continue relying on exhausted families and an overstretched workforce to hold the system together.

“Social care should be seen as an investment in people, communities and dignity — not as an afterthought.

“This is the moment for boldness and leadership. The country has waited long enough.”

Time to Put Social Care at the Heart of National Debate

The Independent Care Group (ICG) is calling for social care to be placed “at the heart of a national debate” ahead of the local elections, warning that candidates must be judged not on promises alone, but on whether they truly grasp the scale of a crisis pushing parts of the sector to the brink.

ICG says that social care has become one of the defining moral, economic and political issues facing the country. Yet for too long it has been treated as a secondary concern – discussed only when hospitals are overwhelmed, councils are under pressure, or families reach crisis point.

The reality is that adult social care underpins the NHS, local government, the economy and family life itself. Without a functioning care sector, hospitals cannot discharge patients safely, families cannot remain in work, and vulnerable people are left without dignity, independence or security.

As the country approaches a critical election period, voters are being urged to look beyond traditional party loyalty and instead consider which candidates and parties truly understand the scale of the social care crisis – and are prepared to confront it honestly.

While all major political parties speak about reform, the public has heard promises on social care for decades, with little meaningful change. The system continues to face mounting pressure, with ongoing debates around workforce recruitment, local government funding, NHS integration, prevention, unpaid carers and long-term funding reform.

Approaches differ across the political spectrum. Some parties advocate for increased public investment and structural reform, while others emphasise local control, efficiency or broader economic change. There are also significant differences in policies on immigration and workforce planning – a critical issue for a sector heavily reliant on international recruitment.

However, one central question remains:

Who is prepared to treat social care as essential national infrastructure, rather than a political afterthought?

Mike Padgham, Honorary President of the Independent Care Group, said: “Social care is the foundation that so much of our society depends on, yet it is still not being treated with the urgency it deserves. We cannot continue to rely on short-term fixes and repeated promises while the system struggles under growing pressure. This election is a crucial moment for voters to ask serious questions of those seeking office – not just about what they promise, but whether they truly understand the scale of the challenge and are willing to act. Social care must be recognised as essential national infrastructure, not something that is only addressed when crisis hits.”

“The public deserves honesty. Social care cannot survive on short-term fixes, emergency funding announcements or rhetoric about “valuing carers.” The pressures facing providers, workers, unpaid carers and those who rely on services are now profound. Workforce shortages, rising costs, increasing complexity of need and fragile provider sustainability are pushing parts of the system towards collapse.”

This election, the ICG says, presents an important opportunity for voters to examine where parties and candidates have stood historically on social care, what they are proposing now, and whether they genuinely understand the urgency of the situation.

Voters are encouraged to ask:

• Has this candidate consistently supported social care?

• Do they understand the pressures on providers, carers and families?

• Are they willing to prioritise long-term reform over political convenience?

• Do their policies match the scale of the challenge?

• Will they stand up for vulnerable people when difficult funding decisions are made?

Social care affects every community, every family and every generation. It is no longer possible to separate the future of the NHS, local government or economic recovery from the future of care itself.

Voters are being urged to carefully consider the positions of all parties and support the candidates they believe are most capable of addressing the deep and urgent social care challenges the country now faces.