Andy Burnham Backs NHS-Style Social Care Funded by New Death Tax Andy Burnham backs an NHS-style National Care Service funded by a death tax, saying social care must be free at the point of delivery despite likely unpopularity. Andy Burnham has suggested he will introduce a new death tax that could raise billions to fund an NHS-style social care system, insisting it must be free at the point of delivery. The Prime Minister said he is ready to grasp the nettle and create a National Care Service, even if it makes him unpopular after years of wrangling over how to improve support. Mr Burnham said the death of his father Roy last week, who required care because of his Alzheimer's, fuelled his determination to deal with social care's problems.Appearing on the BBC as the Labour conference kicks off in Liverpool, Mr Burnham said the change would be part of Labour's manifesto at the next general election.Labour Conference and Manifesto PledgeIn a sign that some tax rises would be required, Mr Burnham said Labour's 2024 manifesto promises made it hard to do in this Parliament, so he would put his proposals to the public in the next election expected in 2029.He said he was prepared to put himself in that position, recognising that it might be difficult or unpopular with some.Tory shadow minister Chris Philp said: We do not support tax increases. This country is already taxed too highly.Mr Burnham insisted social care must be free at the point of delivery, but refused to say when and admitted there will be huge costs.A care service which, like the NHS, is free at the point of use could cost up to 18.5 billion pounds a year in 2035/6, the Health Foundation think tank has estimated.Mr Burnham rejected that assessment and pointed out there would be savings to the NHS from people who no longer needed emergency treatment or a hospital bed because they had better social care provision.Costs and NHS Principles for CareHe added: People are paying care charges now. They are spending tens of thousands of pounds from their savings, sometimes losing their homes. That is what is happening at the moment. So to suggest there is not a cost to people at this moment in time, there is a huge cost.Social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare, where the most vulnerable in society can lose everything, they can be wiped out, not just by the condition that they have, but wiped out financially.Mr Burnham told the BBC social care must be run on NHS principles. That would mean everyone contributes, everyone is covered, although he stressed Baroness Casey has been tasked with coming up with precise proposals.Mr Burnham said his speech to conference on Tuesday will lay out a vision, but he ruled out changes before the general election, insisting it will need public approval.I will not leave office without having grasped this nettle, he told the Mirror in another interview.Mr Burnham added: It is a priority for me, and I will face it. And it may make me unpopular, but I am going to do it.Party Tensions and Heathrow Expansion DoubtsMr Burnham is facing a stormy Labour conference today with ministers clashing on migration and the Left accusing him of ghosting them.The PM is in Liverpool kicking off his first gathering since ousting Keir Starmer, but with mounting evidence that the same bitter infighting will blight his leadership.Tensions have flared after Angela Rayner doubled down on her criticism of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's un-British plans to make it harder for migrants to gain permanent residence in the UK.Ms Rayner insisted this morning that there were no splits and pointed out that Mr Burnham wanted ministers to do politics differently by speaking out.She told Sky News: We are not having an argument about immigration, we are having a conversation, a national conversation.But the Housing Secretary's intervention has been described by MPs as a drive-by shooting. Meanwhile, Left-wingers have been openly sniping at Mr Burnham's approach.Clive Lewis, once such a fervent ally who suggested he could stand down so the former Manchester mayor could re-enter the Commons, said the PM had left his allies behind on entering No10 and behaved terribly.The PM also fuelled fresh doubts about the Heathrow Airport expansion, just weeks after his Chancellor backed it.Mr Burnham repeatedly refused to endorse the scheme to build a third runway, suggesting it was a matter for London and the Government was waiting for the outcome of a consultation.But John Healey told the Commons earlier this month that the Government supports the project. Mr Burnham has a record of attacks on the proposal going back years.In January last year the then-Manchester mayor branded it a model for an ever-overheating UK economy, warning it could not come at the expense of essential investment in northern infrastructure.Yesterday Heathrow revealed that the project could be delayed four years until 2039.