Of course, Andy Burnham is a very sincere man, and he has just lost his father. He has spoken about watching his father suffer because of inadequate care. But if he felt that strongly about it, he could have taken a year off being mayor and cared for him himself — just like millions of ordinary people are forced to do every day because the support simply isn’t there.
He has quickly discovered what everyone else already knew: the care system has been badly managed for years, and there is no easy fix.
So where do you look for the money?
Illegal crossings? The bloated civil service? The ever-expanding House of Lords? Perhaps asking the Royal Family to contribute a little more towards their own care?
No.
Get stuck into the pensioners.
They are the perfect target. Many cannot fight back. They cannot simply pick up another shift, work a few extra hours or rebuild their income. Plenty of them would still work if their bodies allowed it. These are not the so-called work-shy of 2026. These are people who worked, paid in and were repeatedly told that doing so would provide them with some security in old age.
You have to admire the intellectual firepower behind it. I can only imagine the masterplan being developed over a pint and a packet of crisps from the heavily subsidised bar in the House of Commons.
Of course, there is always money for something else.
There is Ukraine to fund. There are foreign conflicts to become involved in. There is always another international commitment that suddenly becomes Britain’s responsibility and another politician explaining why the cheque absolutely must be written.
But when the pensioner asks what happened to the deal they thought they had with the country, suddenly the calculator comes out.
My heart goes out to the pensioners watching all this unfold.
Because one thing is almost guaranteed: the politicians passing through No. 10 will not spend their retirement wondering whether the heating stays on, whether the weekly shop needs cutting back, or whether they can afford another increase in the cost of living.
Their pensions will be waiting for them.
Index-linked.
Protected.
And very comfortable indeed.
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