‘Rip the plaster off’: Andy Burnham sets out vision for universal free social care 27. September 2026 (12:00) PM says he will put proposals for NHS-style service funded by everybody into Labour’s next general election manifestoUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has said that he is going to “rip the plaster off” to fix the broken social care system, as he set out a vision for a universal service that would be free at the point of use for everybody in England.The prime minister said the new NHS-style social care service would be funded by “everybody” but did not give further details of how his radical long-term plan would be paid for. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two mass shootings in South Africa leave 27 dead 27. September 2026 (12:00) The two attacks hours apart come as the country struggles to stop high levels of gang-related armed violence.(BBC News)
Trump allies could use midterms ‘counting window’ to disrupt results, experts warn 27. September 2026 (12:00) Fears grow that loyalists in key states could use critical period when votes are counted to amplify false claimsElection experts have warned Donald Trump’s administration could use the crucial hours and days after November’s midterm elections to disrupt the results after struggling to enforce a crackdown on voting.With less than six weeks remaining until polls close, and control of US Congress in the balance, the post-election “counting window” is seen as as a particularly vulnerable moment by former US federal government officials. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK politics live: Burnham confirms he wants new taxes to pay for free social care in England, saying many already paying ‘huge’ dementia costs 27. September 2026 (11:51) PM appears to be anticipating criticism of reforms that he will set out on Tuesday at the Labour party conference‘I can deliver’: Burnham pledges radical change on eve of Labour conferenceKuenssberg puts it to Burnham that, according to the Health Foundation, a system offering adult social care free at the point of deliver (like healthcare delivered by the NHS) would cost £18bn.Burnham says the cost is “not that high” (ie, not as high as £18bn).Not that high.But can I directly deal with this issue of the costs?Louise Casey is still doing an official review for us, so I will set out the vision, if you like, on Tuesday [in his speech to the conference].Louise will then help us with the how. How do we make this happen? When can we make it happen? Continue reading...(The Guardian)
