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

Beyond the safety net: Embedding prevention at the core of social care reform

By Tom Stannard | 20 March 2026

If we are serious about building sustainable public services and improving outcomes for our communities, early intervention cannot remain a long-term ambitio...

HEALTH

Policing reform: Opportunities and challenges

By John Czul | 20 March 2026

Jon Czul says scrapping Police and Crime Commissioners will not, in itself, improve public safety, but that if the transition is handled carefully it could c...

HEALTH

The process for fiscal devolution is clear and the deadline is real

By Mike Emmerich | 20 March 2026

Mike Emmerich says that while much remains unresolved, the Chancellor’s proposition to give local leaders a direct fiscal stake in growth was a shift from rh...

HEALTH

Counting the cost of rectifying exceptional financial support to councils

By David Blackman | 19 March 2026

The scale of the problems exceptional financial support is intended to tackle highlights the need for structural funding reform, say sector experts. David Bl...

Popular articles by William Eichler