Andy Burnham pledges to reform England's social care system as prime minister

Britain's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has promised to fix England's social care system. He said he does not want to leave office without solving this long-standing problem.

Social care in England is not free, unlike the NHS. People who have more than £23,250 in savings must pay for their own care. Burnham first put forward a plan for free universal social care back in 2009, when he was health secretary.

In his first week as prime minister, he also promised to end rough sleeping and to lower electricity bills and bus fares. A source close to Burnham said he would "run towards problems that have been neglected." Several previous prime ministers tried and failed to reform social care.