Andy Burnham to host cross-party talks on social care - but neither Kemi Badenoch nor Ed Davey can attend after 'being given just 18 hours' notice' - while Nigel Farage is snubbed

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 09:01, 29 July 2026 | Updated: 09:26, 29 July 2026 Andy Burnham will hold cross-party talks on social care today - but neither Kemi Badenoch nor Ed Davey can attend in person and Nigel Farage has been snubbed. The Prime Minister wants to build a 'spirit of collaboration' on tackling the social care crisis and vowed to expend 'whatever political capital I have' on fixing the system. He has insisted the time for 'playing politics' on the issue is over, 'when the human cost of that means carers struggling, families paying the price and our NHS buckling under the strain'. Both the Tories and Liberal Democrats have accepted Mr Burnham's invitation to attend Wednesday's meeting, which will happen after the PM gives a speech. But Mrs Badenoch, the Tory leader, is unable to attend - due to a non-serious pre-planned medical appointment - and will send shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew on her behalf. Meanwhile, Sir Ed will join the meeting via Zoom as he is in France with his son who needs round-the-clock care. A Tory official criticised Mr Burnham for only giving short notice of Wednesday's meeting and for holding it during Parliament's summer break.  'If Burnham was serious about working cross-party he would have given us more than 18 hours' notice for a 30-minute meeting during recess and the invitation wouldn't have been immediately press-released,' they told Politico. 'It's almost like it's only being done for show.'  Andy Burnham will hold cross-party talks on social care today - but neither Kemi Badenoch nor Ed Davey can attend in person and Nigel Farage has been snubbed Kemi Badenoch has warned Mr Burnham she will not support any proposals for social care that involve raising taxes or increasing Government borrowing Mr Farage also hit out at the PM for not extending an invite to his Reform UK party. He said: 'It's remarkable that he's chosen to ignore the party that led over 300 national opinion polls and represents thousands of councillors and millions of Britons across the country. 'It's now clear that Burnham is conspiring behind closed doors with the failed political establishment to foist further tax rises on the country.' Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who has also been snubbed, urged Mr Burnham to reach out to him. He told BBC Newsnight: 'I would like to be there. Of course, I would, and I'd encourage the PM to extend that invitation. 'I think the point here, though, is not politicians' personal egos. The point is, adult social care is a ticking time bomb.' It has been estimated the PM's plan to make social care free at the point of use will cost an extra £18billion a year.  He has previously championed a 'national care levy' and this week failed to rule out a 10 per cent charge on all estates after the owner dies to replace current inheritance tax - dubbed a 'death tax' by critics. Nigel Farage hit out at the Prime Minister for not extending an invite to his Reform UK party Sir Ed Davey will join the meeting via Zoom as he is in France with his son who needs round-the-clock care According to The Telegraph, Government officials have also drawn up alternative plans for a new tax on income to fund social care. This could be set at 1.8 per cent of earnings above £6,240, paid by workers over the age of 34. The fund would be invested on behalf of working-age people to use for the cost of care when their cohort reaches old age, the newspaper reported. Mrs Badenoch has warned Mr Burnham she will not support any proposals for social care that involve raising taxes or increasing Government borrowing, while Mr Farage has vowed his party 'will fight a death tax every step of the way'. Ahead of his speech on social care in London on Wednesday, the PM said: 'Last week I said we needed a different kind of politics: problem-solving, not point-scoring.  'Nowhere is that more urgent than social care. For decades, governments have kicked this issue down the road because they've seen it as too risky, too difficult, and too complicated. 'Politicians might have different views, but I'm serious about fixing this issue and to do that, we have to find common ground and listen to others to find a way forward.' Michelle Dyson, CEO of Alzheimer's Society, said: 'We warmly welcome and support the PM's commitment to tackling social care. 'For people living with dementia, it is critical. People living with dementia need good quality care as early as possible, but too often families are left to navigate a fragmented system, bearing huge emotional, practical and financial pressures. 'Dementia is one of the biggest drivers of demand on the care system. Getting social care right depends heavily on getting dementia care right, making the most of the new opportunities afforded by scientific breakthroughs, which mean we can intervene earlier and keep people well for longer. 'The public is fully behind us on this – our recent polling shows that four out of five people want dementia to be made a national healthcare priority. 'Urgency is key. We are looking forward to working with our new PM on quick wins like dementia training for care workers, together with longer-term plans for reform that will leave a lasting legacy for people living with dementia now and in the future.'