The Guardian view on social care: reformers must reclaim the initiative | Editorial

Labour pledged ‘deep reform’ of this flawed and complex system. A royal commission could shape a consensus

The sooner the government brings forward social care proposals the better. The lack of further detail about a manifesto commitment to “deep reform” has been a disappointment of Labour’s first months in office. Assisted dying and palliative care are a largely separate issue, relating to the last six months of life rather than the long-term (and sometimes lifelong) needs that social care addresses. But following last week’s vote on Kim Leadbeater’s bill, social care reformers need to reclaim the initiative.

The rising need for social care in an ageing population is widely recognised to be among the UK’s biggest public policy challenges (while it is devolved, the four administrations confront many of the same difficulties). But that hasn’t stopped repeated delays to policies to address it. A royal commission would be one route out of the impasse. Unless he has identified another one, Wes Streeting should take it.

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