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Andy Burnham said “broken” social care will break the NHS as he outlined his plans to reform the system.
At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the prime minister will pledge his government will bring about radical change for Britain, and he told the BBC he would “grasp the nettle” of social care reform in England.
The former Greater Manchester mayor said he would put his plan for a national care service along the lines of the NHS, funded by the taxpayer and free at the point of use, to the public at the next general election.
Mr Burnham, whose father died earlier this month, told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “For me, obviously, coming in to this journey as prime minister as my dad was ending his, has been hard.
“But it pushes me on, and I’m going to grasp the nettle on social care.”
He described social care in England as being as “unfair as American healthcare, where the most vulnerable in society can lose everything.”
Timings on the main stage for Sunday
1100 - Steve Rotheram
1140 - Hollie Ridley
1150 - Joe Fortune
1220 - Bridget Phillipson
1230 - Lucy Powell
1400 - Louise Haigh
1410 - Douglas Alexander
1420 - Michael Marra
1430 - Stephen Kinnock
1440 - Ken Skates
1515 - Pat McFadden
In pictures: Proceedings begin in earnest at ACC Liverpool
Heckler heard shouting 'get on with it Andy' before Steve Rotheram responds
A heckler could be heard shouting “get on with it, Andy” as the Labour Party conference opened in Liverpool.
Andy Burnham was present in the conference hall when the heckle was made.
It came as Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram spoke about Labour’s plans to build social homes.
Mr Rotheram responded to the heckle saying: “That’s me, Dad, that.”
He gave a thumbs-up, before adding: “Me ma says she’s put the kettle on for ya.”
Concluding his opening speech, he said: “Over the next few days, enjoy the debates, the speeches, the fringe events, the hecklers, but also enjoy this city.”
Burnham 'receiving updates' on Gloucestershire incident
Prime minister Andy Burnham is receiving updates on the incident near RAF Fairford.
A Government spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister is being kept updated on the incident in Gloucestershire.
“We are grateful to the emergency services, who have acted quickly to detain several suspects and put measures in place to keep the community safe.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further whilst investigations are ongoing.”
Read our report below:
"Hard to conclude” that Daniel Thomas is “anything other than someone who has racist views”, PM says
Andy Burnham said it is “hard to conclude” far-right activist Daniel Thomas, known to his supporters as Danny Tommo, is “anything other than someone who has racist views”.
Asked if he thinks the founder of anti-migration group Patriot Platform is a racist, he told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “Well, it’s hard to conclude that he’s anything other than someone who has racist views.
“I hesitate always before I, you know, I’ve not read everything that he said, I’ve not followed everything that he’s done. So I’m just going to say that because I don’t just throw labels on people.
“But given everything and the way he’s behaving and what he’s seeking to whip up, I mean this is the worst kind of hateful behaviour.”
Analysis: Burnham preparing for a big gamble
Andy Burnham's appearance on Laura Kuenssberg's Sunday morning show on BBC was a classic in the style of our new prime minister at the start of his first Labour conference in the role.
There was lots of empathy, great presentation and plenty of direction of travel - but very little in hard detail, particularly on how he will pay for things.
A lot of "wait for my speech on Tuesday."
He hesitated to call the far right activist Danny Tommo a racist, he could not commit to a third runway at Heathrow, and he could not say if he would get the welfare bill down.
But under some excellent questioning the prime minister did reveal one important matter - he plans to fight the next election on a plan to overhaul social care in England and Wales.
The new PM could not hide that this would come through taxation for a country that is already highly taxed.
It also rules out an early election because he will need time to put his plan together.
But Mr Burnham more than any politician knows from his experience of "death tax" allegations in 2009 that he will be taking a risk. Theresa May also ran aground on the issue in 2017.
He feels passionately about this issue because of his late father's experience with Alzheimer's.
But by making this admission he probably has guaranteed there will not be cross party consensus on social care if it is defining the next election and he will be taking a brave but huge gamble.
Burnham would not say whether he backs Heathrow third runway
Andy Burnham would not say whether he would back a third runway at Heathrow.
Asked if he would back the move on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, he said: “Principally, it’s a matter for London and Londoners.”
Pressed further, he continued: “It’s not right for me to just jump straight in on the back of the consultation.”
He added: “I think it’s right that we hear what people have said through the consultation, and then then consider the way forward from there.”