Reform's Jenrick demands Burnham 'end the worry' and rule out an £18bn 'death tax' to pay for social care plans - as he brands it 'insulting' Farage was snubbed by PM for cross-party talks

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 11:55, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 12:06, 30 July 2026 Andy Burnham today faced fresh demands to 'end the worry' and rule out an £18billion 'death tax' to pay for his social care plans. Reform UK's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick called on the Prime Minister to 'rule out this tax, end the uncertainty, end the worry today'. He added that Mr Burnham should 'call a general election' if he failed to do so. The PM has said social care must be reformed with 'urgency' as he makes tackling the crisis in the sector a key part of his premiership. It has been estimated Mr Burnham's desire to make social care free at the point of use will cost an extra £18billion a year. The PM signalled tax rises are to come during a speech on Wednesday when he warned of 'difficult decisions' on funding. There are fears that Mr Burnham could seek to impose a 10 per cent levy on people's estates after they die to fund his proposed 'national care service' - an idea dubbed a 'death tax' by critics - that he previously touted when he was health secretary in 2010. It has also been reported that officials have drawn up alternative plans for a new tax on income to fund social care.  At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Jenrick vowed that Reform would 'fight a universal death tax' as an 'unfair' and 'cruel' levy. He also branded it 'insulting' that Mr Burnham had snubbed Reform leader Nigel Farage for Wednesday's cross-party talks on social care changes. Reform UK's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick called on the Prime Minister to 'rule out this tax, end the uncertainty, end the worry today' At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Jenrick vowed that Reform would 'fight a universal death tax' as an 'unfair' and 'cruel' levy Mr Jenrick said it was 'strange' and 'insulting' that Reform wasn't invited to the discussions as the party runs 30 local councils across the country who are 'at the coalface of this problem'. Reform will oppose a 'death tax' not 'as opposition for opposition's sake' but 'because it's unfair, impractical and cruel on the people of this country', Mr Jenrick said. 'Britain would become the single-worst place to hand down money to your kids in the Western world,' he added. 'Reform believes that money taxed when you earned it, taxed when you saved it, and taxed when you spent it should not be taxed a fourth time as you are laid to rest. 'We demand Andy Burnham provides millions of worried families across the country with peace of mind by ruling out a universal death tax today.' Mr Jenrick insisted that Reform is serious about fixing the social care crisis despite the party not yet having a health spokesman. He told reporters: 'Have other opposition parties held a press conference dedicated to social care and this response? I haven't seen them. 'Reform is currently running 30 local authorities across the country which have responsibility for social care, more than any of the other political parties. 'We are absolutely at the coalface of this, trying to do our utmost to support people in difficult times. Don't tell us we don't care about this issue. We really do. 'What we don't want to see is hardworking Brits having to pick up the price of that for losing their home, losing their nest egg, not being able to hand that on to their children and their grandchildren. That's the point that we're making today.' Mr Farage said in April he was looking to appoint a health spokesman. Mr Burnham has said he 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.  Asked if Reform would work constructively with the PM on the issue, Mr Jenrick said: 'We have been working constructively. Baroness Casey invited Reform to be part of her review and we've participated in that. 'But, as you know, Andy Burnham has chosen not to invite Reform to be part of the talks that have begun this week. 'I find that, in one sense, strange and insulting because Reform runs 30 councils across the country who are actually at the coalface of this problem - having to manage the mess that the Labour Party and Conservative Party left for them. 'But, on the other hand, entirely understandable because Nigel Farage alone among the party leaders has been very, very clear that we do not support increasing taxes, we will fight the death tax - or indeed any other tax on hardworking people if there is an alternative proposed instead. 'If we were invited, yes we would participate. But I tell you what Nigel would say to Andy Burnham, he'd be crystal clear; end the uncertainty today, don't leave people hanging for the course of the next year or so, rule out the death tax now. 'That would be our condition, that's what we would say in the first meeting.'