Title

HEALTH

MPs back social care system overhaul

A poll of 100 English MPs has found just one in 10 believe the current social care system is suitable for the UK’s ageing population.

A poll of 100 English MPs has found just one in 10 believe the current social care system is suitable for the UK's ageing population.

The poll, commissioned by older people's charity Independent Age, also found 86% believe a cross-party consensus is needed for a lasting settlement on health and social care.

Chief executive of Independent Age, Janet Morrison, said: ‘Confidence that the social care system can deal with the UK's ageing population has virtually evaporated among Parliamentarians.

‘The crisis in social care was front and centre in the election earlier this year and it is clear from this poll that there is an overwhelming desire from politicians on all sides for the Government to work towards a cross-party consensus on a solution.'

Richard Humphries, senior fellow at The King's Fund, an independent charity working to improve health and care in England, said the survey challenged ‘the leaderships of both main parties to put aside their differences and work together to fix the crisis in the social care system'.

He said: ‘MPs of both main parties agree that adult social care needs both fundamental reform and more funding, and so it is vital that the forthcoming government consultation addresses this.

‘Parliament has made clear that the make do and mend approach to the social care system is no longer good enough.'

Chairman of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, added: ‘It is encouraging to see so many MPs across all political parties recognising the need for action to find a sustainable solution to the adult social care funding crisis.'

HEALTH

Planning for the worst

By Martin Ford | 22 September 2026

As the UK faces a myriad of large-scale threats that only grows longer with each passing year, how well equipped is local government to cope? Martin Ford rep...

HEALTH

MJ Regeneration: The council homes push needs solid foundations

By Jackie Sadek | 21 September 2026

If councils are to come close to the targets to build new homes, amid the flurry of other Burnham policies, they will need serious support to deliver, says J...

HEALTH

LGR pause and review: what councils need to know

By Christopher Kerr | 18 September 2026

Christopher Kerr looks at the immediate issues and future concerns councils need to address following the pause in local government reorganisation.

HEALTH

Madchesterism: Putting music at the heart of devolution

By Tom Kiehl | 17 September 2026

New research makes clear the next phase of devolution is an opportunity to treat music as part of the economic, social and physical part of local communities...

Popular articles by William Eichler

-->