To govern is to choose

What is one of the most pressing and urgent political problems we face? The need to sort out defence spending? The lack of trust in our democracy? Who to vote for at the next election?

All are important! But what about adult social care? How high is that on your list of priorities? It might be near the top if you’ve experienced trying to sort social care out for a loved one. But for others of us, I suspect it is just not on our political radar. I think it’s refreshing, therefore, that our new Prime Minister has made reforming social care his big political mission. He’s willing, or so he says, to spend a lot of political capital on it.

If he’s serious, then it will cost him. Currently, 1 million people receive publicly funded, long-term social care. Age UK estimates a further 2 million over 65 have unmet needs for their own care and support. Social care covers a wide range of activities that help older people, or those living with a disability or physical or mental illness, to live independently and safely. You might get help to wash and dress, and it can happen in people’s homes or in day centres of residential homes.

Despite the high and growing level of need, there are serious financial and staffing shortages. For example, in the first three months of 2024, nearly 161,000 hours of home care could not be delivered because of staff shortages. The financial bill for adult social care each year is also astronomical (around £32 billion) and it is going up. Simply reforming the system could cost an additional £17 billion.

And Mr Burnham is looking at reforming the system at a time when, nationally, the country is in a poor financial position. To make it happen, surely the government must be willing to make cuts elsewhere, which would reduce funding for other public services. Or, the government will have to increase our taxes. Neither option will go down well with the electorate, or with Labour MPs.

Yet to govern is to choose. Simply trying to keep everyone happy won’t cut it anyway in an increasingly polarised politics. The answer to polarisation is not to always seek a mythical consensus when it may not exist! It is to work out your first principles and then take the necessary action, whatever the political cost. Mr Burnham has talked a good game, now it is time to see if he’ll deliver.

What about the church? What role does she have? I’ve always thought we need to be better at advocating for positive social change, rather than just speaking out about everything we’re against. God’s Word gives us rich wisdom about caring for the vulnerable, valuing older people and giving dignity to everyone, at every stage of life. This is built on the glorious truth that every human being is made in the image of God Himself and therefore, crowned with “glory and honour” (Ps. 8v5).

Churches can pray for success in this bold move to try and fix social care. We can extend grace when the going gets tough and we can work out our salvation by becoming, increasingly, communities where older people feel loved and valued.

With his slick social media posts and his ability to sound human when he speaks, Mr Burnham clearly excels at political presentation. But real politics is about transforming lives. My prayer is that unlike previous governments, the one led by Mr Burnham will succeed in rewiring the state, so social care and workers receive the funding they need and older and more vulnerable people across our country will feel the benefits.