Streeting defends proposed timeline for commission into adult social care reform Health secretary Wes Streeting has defended the government’s proposed timeline for reforming social care. Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme he stressed there would be action taken in this parliament. He said “successive governments led by Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and the SNP have all failed on social care.” He continued: If anyone is going to help us to break the cycle of bad politics, knock heads together, and forge the national consensus I think we need on social care, it is Louise Casey. And that work will begin in April. It will report initially next year. And within three years I hope we will have built the consensus we need to build a national care service fit to meet the challenges for older and disabled people in the 21st century. Streeting continued by saying the government was clear “part one of the Casey commission isn’t reporting in 2028. It is reporting next year.” He claimed “it will outline what we need to do during this parliament to lay the foundations for a national care service. So there’s going to be plenty going on in this parliament.” He also defended the government’s record on social care so far, citing investments in adapting people’s homes to give people with disabilities greater independence, and an expansion of carers’ allowance. Summary of the day … Cross-party talks over the future of social care will begin next month as health secretary Wes Streeting hit back over criticism that a commission on the issue would take too long to bring about change Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has signalled his party’s willingness to cooperate on a cross-party basis, though cast some doubt on the extent to which he believes the government is truly ready to listen An independent commission to reform adult social care in England was launched on Friday, but attracted criticism for kicking much-needed reforms “into the long grass”. Its final recommendations will not be made until 2028 Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has reiterated calls for an inquiry into grooming gangs. Badenoch held the ministerial role for women and equalities in Rishi Sunak’s government from October 2022 to July 2024 Streeting said he is in favour of local authorities setting up further historical child sexual abuse inquiries where appropriate, and that the government would implement the recommendations of the 2022 independent report into child sexual abuse in full, while also suggesting that Elon Musk should “roll his sleeves up” and help work on ending child sexual exploitation instead of making “misjudged and certainly misinformed” comments Health minister Andrew Gwynne told LBC that Musk should “perhaps ought to focus on issues on the other side of the Atlantic” after the tech billionaire attempted to stage another intervention into British politics Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he will give a “full response” to what he described as Badenoch’s “crazy conspiracy theories” about the organisation. Farage is speaking at a Reform UK event in Leicester tonight. Over the Christmas period Badenoch accused the Reform UK website of faking membership data, which the organisation has denied Leicester South’s independent MP Shockat Adam has issued a statement about the Reform UK East Midlands conference after contituents expressed concerns attendees would stir division. Adam said “Many people voted for Reform because they have been left behind by the system and betrayed by the traditional political parties. However, the policies proposed by Reform are fundamentally flawed … what the people of Leicester truly need is a break from the poverty and austerity that have plagued our communities for too long. Reform, despite all their rhetoric, won’t deliver this change any more than Labour or the Tories will Badenoch instructed her department to write to the Treasury about a potential tax break after an intervention from James Dyson, documents have revealed The number of people admitted to hospital with flu in England has quadrupled in a month, as health leaders said “huge” pressure in the NHS will only get worse as temperatures plummet this weekend. Hospital admissions in Scotland caused by the flu have increased by 12% in just a week. Scotland’s NHS is still facing “significant” winter pressures, health minister Neil Gray has said Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has said she is “in tune on many issues” with her British counterpart, Keir Starmer, especially “the fight against mass illegal immigration” and the need to explore “innovative solutions” when it comes to processing asylum claims, touting Italy’s controversial agreement with Albania New data from the Bank of England has shown there has been a slowdown in mortgage lending Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has made almost $19m (£15.3m) from the sale of shares in Meta since he joined the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp six years ago. He announced on Thursday he was leaving his role as president of global affairs and communications That is it from me, Martin Belam, for today. Thanks you for all your comments – I will see you again soon. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said flu admissions are having a “high impact” on hospitals in England. Prof Susan Hopkins, UKHSA chief medical adviser, said: For many of us, the festive period is marked with parties and socialising with friends and family, meaning it’s not unusual to see an increase in flu at this time of year and this was anticipated. This is why we have been urging those eligible to take up a free flu vaccine. PA Media reports the admission rate for flu patients in England stood at 14.1 per 100,000 people last week, up from 10.7 the previous week and the highest level so far this season. In Scotland, where the NHS is also dealing with a large number of flu patients, health secretary Neil Gray earlier offered a similar message urging take-up of vaccinations. Steve Darling, the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, has reiterated the party’s call for health and social care providers to be exempted from rises in employer national insurance contribution. He posted to social media to say: While I’m glad the health secretary is listening to Liberal Democrat calls for cross-party cooperation on adult social care, the proposed reform timeline is simply too long. We need a solution that is above politics and built to last, but for a struggling industry, waiting until 2028 is unacceptable. One thing the government could do RIGHT NOW is exempt health and social care providers from the employers national insurance contribution hike. Liberal Democrats are firm on this. Hospital admissions in Scotland caused by the flu have increased by 12% in just a week, PA Media reports new figures from Public Health Scotland (PHS) show. PHS reported on Friday that a “substantial number of well-vaccinated” care homes have faced outbreaks, but thus far “only a small number of deaths have been reported”. Earlier health secretary Neil Gray warned the NHS in Scotland continues to face “significant” pressures due in part to the increase in flu cases. Floods minister Emma Hardy has said the government is “working at pace to accelerate the building of flood defences,” and that her thoughts were with “people, businesses and communities impacted by flooding, particularly those in and around Greater Manchester and Cheshire.” The statement came as the Environment Agency in England warned the public to “stay away from swollen rivers and to plan ahead when making journeys as flooding impacts have caused disruption across locations in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Yorkshire.” Hardy said: I have met with officials from the Environment Agency and MPs to ensure that impacted communities are receiving the necessary support, and I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. My colleague Angela Giuffrida in Rome has picked up some lines about prime minister Keir Starmer from Italy’s far-right PM Giorgia Meloni. Giuffrida writes: Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has said she is “in tune on many issues” with her British counterpart, Keir Starmer. Meloni told the weekly magazine of the Corriere della Seranewspaper that her relations with Starmer, who is from the opposite end of the political spectrum to her far-right Brothers of Italy party, were “very good”. She added: “We are in tune on many issues. I think, for example, about the governance of migratory flows and the fight against mass illegal immigration, because it’s a problem that effects the entire European continent, even beyond EU borders.” She said that she and Starmer agreed on the need “to intensify the fight against traffickers, work towards greater cooperation between our police forces, strengthen the commitment on assisted voluntary repatriations and to not be afraid to also explore innovative solutions, such as the one that Italy initiated with the protocol with Albania to process asylum claims in a non-EU country, but under Italian and European jurisdiction.” However, she did not mention that the €670m (£556m) deal, which was intended to transport 3,000 people intercepted in Italian seas each month to Albania, has proved fruitless since getting under way in October due to legal problems. Read more from Angela Giuffrida in Rome here: Far-right Italian PM says she is ‘in tune on many issues’ with Keir Starmer Speaking of that Reform UK event, ever with an eye for publicity, Nigel Farage has just trailed that it will be live to watch on social media this evening, and that as, in his words “an apology has not been forthcoming from Kemi Badenoch regarding her crazy conspiracy theories about Reform UK” he will be taking the opportunity to give his “full response” this evening. That should be guaranteed to occupy some column inches tomorrow. Farage is referring to the row over the Christmas period when Badenoch accused the Reform UK website of faking membership data, which the organisation has denied. Leicester South’s independent MP Shockat Adam has issued a statement about the Reform UK East Midlands conference, which is taking place this evening at the Athena Events Venue in Leicester. He said: I have heard constituent’s concerns that Reform UK is coming to Leicester with the intent of stirring division. Let me make this clear: Leicester is a confident, diverse city and any political group seeking to sow discord will find only cohesion, unity and mutual respect. Reform’s members have an opportunity to come to Leicester and experience the city’s unique cultural harmony. Here, diversity comes alive through its cuisine, creative arts, iconic architecture, vibrant music, and meaningful conversations. This is the Leicester experience everyone should see. Many people voted for Reform because they have been left behind by the system and betrayed by the traditional political parties. However, the policies proposed by Reform are fundamentally flawed. Brexit is reducing people’s incomes and restricting their opportunities, their tax policies are designed to make the rich richer, not redistribute wealth to those that need it most and their dog whistles on race have inflamed divisions when we should be coming together. What the people of Leicester truly need is a break from the poverty and austerity that have plagued our communities for too long. Reform, despite all their rhetoric, won’t deliver this change any more than Labour or the Tories will. Reform UK leader and Clacton MP Nigel Farage is speaking at the event tonight, one of a series of similar events to be held over the next few days. Tickets are only available to people who have paid a membership fee to Reform UK. Andrew Gregory and Michael Goodier have this report on the winter pressures affecting the NHS in England. Some further reaction from the government’s announcement that there is to be an independent commission to look at the provision of adult social care. Andrew Pike, Dementia UK’s head of policy, campaigns and public affairs said the organisation welcomes the launch, but “with the final report not due to emerge until 2028, thousands will remain stuck in limbo. There are nearly one million people living with dementia in the UK – they deserve access to good quality social care now.” He continued “It is vital that the government delivers this long overdue reform by urgently increasing sustainable funding, reducing waiting times for local care assessments, developing a national carers strategy for unpaid carers, and delivering a social care workforce with the capacity, resource and skills to meet the needs of people affected by dementia.” Speaking on behalf of the County councils network, Buckinghamshire Conservative Cllr Martin Tett said “it is vital that the voice of local government, which really understands the issues to be debated, is prominent in this review.” He added “Social care is complex and frequently misunderstood. It is not just about who pays the care costs of the elderly … with the purpose of the National Care Service vague and ill-defined at present, the financial pressures on councils are intense and growing and so our members are clear that their number one priority is sustainable funding for social care alongside a long-term workforce plan.” Former Labour leader and independent MP for Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn, has also commented, saying: The government has told elderly and disabled people to wait until 2028 to hear its plan for social care. What about those who are suffering here and now? We don’t need a commission to know what to do: end austerity, reverse privatisation, and build a National Care Service for all. Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has just posted to social media responding to health minister Andrew Gwynne after some comments he made on Sky News this morning. In the Sky News interview earlier, speaking from Manchester, Gwynne accused Badenoch of “playing politics” over her calling for an inquiry into grooming gangs. He said: Well, look, I think that Kemi Badenoch is playing politics here, because we’ve had a review into child sexual exploitation. That review has reported to the government, and the government is considering the findings in that report And I think that she needs to ensure that we respond to that report in good time. And look, we don’t want to delay any action to protect young girls. We don’t want to delay implementing the recommendations from the 2022 inquiry. Badenoch has responded in her typically forthright style, posting: Labour claimed I was “playing politics” when I fought to stop rapists being put in women’s prisons. It’s exactly this sort of language that protected the rape gangs in the first place. I learned as I legislated to overturn postmasters’ convictions, too many people think challenging a failing system is “playing politics”. It’s not. It’s called “Doing The Right Thing”. The Conservative govt set up the first ever grooming gangs taskforce, which led to over 550 arrests. This was the right thing to do. Of course, there is still MUCH more to do for the victims. But instead of wasting time attacking me, Labour ministers should get on and launch an inquiry. The report into child sexual exploitation was commissioned by former prime minister Theresa May when she was home secretary in 2015, and published during the brief period that Liz Truss was prime minister. Badenoch held the ministerial role for women and equalities in Rishi Sunak’s government from October 2022 to July 2024. The report made 20 recommendations. In November last year, Prof Alexis Jay, who led its publication, said she felt “frustrated” that none of them had been implemented more than two years after its conclusion. Earlier today health secretary Wes Streeting said “[Keir Starmer’s] government is committed to implementing the recommendations of the inquiry into child sexual abuse. We will do that in full. We will get on with the job.” The Department of Health and Social Care has just published on the government website its press release announcement of “new reforms and independent commission to transform social care” for England. You can read it in full here, with the key passages on the independent commission as follows: Alongside immediate steps to ease pressure on the sector and improve support for care workers, the government is also kickstarting work on the necessary long term reform to overhaul social care and address the inherited challenges it faces. As set out in the manifesto, this deep reform will include the creation of a National Care Service underpinned by national standards, delivering consistency of care across the country. As a first step, the government will launch an independent commission into adult social care to be chaired by Louise Casey, to inform the work needed to deliver this. The commission, reporting to the prime minister, will work with people drawing on care and support, families, staff, politicians and the public, private and third sector to make clear recommendations for how to rebuild the adult social care system to meet the current and future needs of the population. As well as appearing on BBC Radio this morning, health secretary Wes Streeting has been taking his message on adult social care reform to ITV News on television, where he had this to say: This government is determined to grip the crisis in social care, which is historic and has been decades in the making. That’s why, since the general election, we’ve legislated for the first ever fair pay agreements, we’ve delivered the biggest expansion of carers allowance since the 1970s, and we’re delivering big increases in social care funding, including specific funding, things like the disabled facilities grant. But there’s more to do, and if we’re going to break the cycle of failure after failure under different types of government, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Conservative, SNP-led governments, we’ve all failed on this, the best way to do that is an independent commission that brings political parties together. So we’ve got a plan, not just for the next few years which this government will deliver on, but a plan for the next three decades that all parties can sign up to. That’s the level of ambition we have, and that’s how we’re going to break out of the short-termist sticking-plaster politics, and, frankly, the self-serving party politics that has plagued successive government and led to failure in social care. So this commission, I hope, will be a triumph of hope over experience. But goodness me, this country needs hope, and it needs a plan on social care, and that’s what we’re determined to deliver working cross-party through the independent commission. Healthcare is devolved, and Streeting does not have a remit for Scotland, where Neil Gray is the cabinet secretary for health and social care. Streeting though has repeatedly this morning included a reference to the SNP when he has talked broadly about previous government failures on the adult social care issue. Streeting: Musk should "roll sleeves up" and work on ending child sexual exploitation instead of making "misjudged and misinformed" comments Health secretary Wes Streeting has said he is in favour of local authorities setting up further historical child sexual abuse inquiries where appropriate, and that the government would implement the recommendations of the 2022 independent report into child sexual abuse in full, while also suggesting that Elon Musk should “roll his sleeves up” and help work on ending child sexual exploitation instead of making “misjudged and certainly misinformed” comments. Interviewed by ITV news, Streeting said: When it comes to tackling the serious issue of child sexual exploitation abuse, I do think that online giant social media companies have got a big part to play in helping us to identify and prosecute perpetrators of child sexual exploitation and abuse. So whether it’s Elon Musk or anyone else, if those leaders of those giants want to work with this government, we’re willing to work with tech giants to make sure that we keep young people safe online and free from exploitation. Asked if Musk’s recent comments over grooming gangs were unhelpful, Streeting admonished the tech boss, saying: Some of the criticisms that Elon Musk has made, I think, are misjudged, and certainly misinformed. But we’re willing to work with Elon Musk, who I think has got a big role to play with his social media platform to help us – and other countries – to tackle this serious issue. So if he wants to work with us, and roll his sleeves up, we’d welcome that. The health secretary said: This government takes the issue of child sexual exploitation incredibly seriously. We’ve seen harrowing reports and experiences of abuse of victims who’ve been brave enough to come forward and speak up about the appalling crimes that they’ve been subjected to. This government is committed to implementing the recommendations of the inquiry into child sexual abuse. We will do that in full. We will get on with the job. Streeting subsequently told PA Media: There may well be, and we think there is a good case for further inquiries into specific places, Oldham being a good and latest example. We would absolutely encourage and work with Oldham in establishing their own inquiries. Let’s not forget it was the Rotherham inquiry led by Louise Casey that had the guts to call out, frankly, some of the political correctness that was preventing police and the criminal justice system from going after the perpetrators of abuse for fears of being accused of being racist, or fears of upsetting community cohesion. The best thing we could do is get on with the job and support local communities like Oldham to do their own inquiries, and that’s what this Government is encouraging and willing to do. Earlier this week Musk suggested safeguarding minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” over the issue in one of his increasing attempts to intervene in British politics, and backed calls for a dissolution of parliament and a new general election in the UK. Health minister Andrew Gwynne this morning told listeners of LBC radio that the unelected US-based billionaire “perhaps ought to focus on issues on the other side of the Atlantic.” Some economic news which probably won’t cheer up chancellor Rachel Reeves and her hopes to see growth in the economy. New data from the Bank of England has shown there has been a slowdown in mortgage lending. British lenders approved 65,720 mortgages in November. That is less than the 68,500 expected by economists polled by Reuters. It has also been a “drab December” for the high street, with attendance at UK shopping centres, retail parks and high streets was down 2.2% in December compared with the same period in 2023. You can follow the latest business news with my colleague Kalyeena Makortoff today on our business live blog. Health secretary Wes Streeting has backed the roll-out of “Martha’s rule” to “every health and care setting across the country” during his interview this morning on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. He was asked by presenter Nick Robinson “the NHS in England is beginning to roll out Martha’s rule, but there are those who want it to go faster and it to be available nationally. Is that something is health secretary you now want to see?” Streeting said: Yes, and when I was in opposition, I supported Martha’s rule, and I gave credit to our Conservative predecessors when they took up the campaign and started the process of rolling it out. I think the signs are hugely encouraging the impact it’s having. I want to see this in place in every health and care setting across the country. So we’re going to be supporting that roll out. Martha’s mother, Merope, a senior editor at the Guardian, appeared on the Today programme last month, with data showing that patients have been moved to intensive care or received potentially life-saving treatment such as oxygen as a direct result of hospitals adopting the rule. The rule gives patients and their families in England the legal right to a second opinion from senior medics in the same hospital if they are deteriorating rapidly and feel their concerns are being dismissed. Streeting also suggested cross-party support on this issue was a good example of the approach the government was trying to take with adult social care. He said: I thought Merope’s interview, by the way, before Christmas, was was extraordinarily powerful, as was Jeremy Hunt’s interview as well. So this is a good example, leaning back into our social care conversation a bit, that sometimes, even in our slightly fraught politics that we’ve had, certainly in the near decade, that I’ve been in Parliament, that actually we can work together in the national interest. That we can find common ground, and we can make life-changing and life-saving differences. We’re doing that on Martha’s rule. I hope we can do that on the issue of social care too. Scotland’s NHS is still facing “significant” winter pressures, health minister Neil Gray has said. PA Media reports statistics released last week showed levels of flu in Scotland were at an “extraordinary” level, impacting 50.1 people per 100,000 of the population. Gray, who was appointed to the role of cabinet secretary for health and social care in May 2024, said: The NHS continues to face significant winter pressures, including cases of Influenza A, which remain very high. I am enormously grateful to all those working in health and social care settings for their extraordinary efforts over the busy festive period. I was encouraged to hear about the collaborative working right across the system, with strong leadership and staff supporting each other. I want to thank the public, too, for taking heed of messages about accessing the right care in the right place, and taking steps to help slow the spread of infection. The health secretary added that all those eligible for vaccinations should take up the offer. There is more information on Scotland’s flu vaccine programme here. NHS England has also issued new flu data this morning, showing the average number of flu patients in hospital in England each day last week is up sharply on the equivalent week last winter. PA Media quotes Prof Julian Redhead, NHS England national clinical director for urgent and emergency care saying: These latest figures show the pressure from flu was nowhere near letting up before we headed into the new year. On top of flu there is also continual pressure from Covid, while RSV and norovirus hospital cases are also higher than last year. With what looks like an extreme cold snap expected right across England ahead of the weekend, we know the low temperatures can be dangerous for those who are vulnerable or have respiratory conditions so if you are at risk, do try and keep warm and make sure you are stocked up on any regular medication.