Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made fixing Britain's social care crisis his defining goal, framing it as a deeply personal mission rather than simply a political legacy project. His father has Alzheimer's disease and, Burnham has revealed, no longer recognises that his son has become prime minister, giving Burnham first-hand experience of the "postcode lottery" faced by families needing care, particularly the fact that wealthier people can secure better support than those without means.

The issue also carries historical weight for Burnham: as health secretary in 2009 he proposed a levy paid on death to fund social care, but the plan was branded a "death tax" by Andrew Lansley, contributing to Labour's 2010 election defeat and 14 years out of power. Since 1997 there have been 22 failed attempts to reform social care, according to Health Secretary Yvette Cooper and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, both of whom have their own personal connections to the issue. Burnham is now urging cross-party cooperation, warning that without reform the pressure could ultimately cause the NHS to collapse.