09/08/2026
🇬🇧 The Britain I Want to See: My Vision for Andy Burnham’s Government
Hi everyone,
Following my recent discussions about Andy Burnham, his plans for Britain and what I would like to see from the next stage of his government, I wanted to bring all of my ideas together in one post.
I want to make clear that these are not all confirmed Andy Burnham policies. Some reflect policies and priorities he has already talked about, while others are my own ideas about what I believe the government should consider.
For me, the overall message is simple:
Invest in people before they reach crisis point. Prevent problems where we can. Listen to lived experience. Give people opportunities. And make public services work better for everyone.
Here is the Britain I would like to see.
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🏥 THE NHS
I want to see an NHS with:
• Shorter waiting times for referrals, appointments, assessments and treatment.
• More GPs, nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists, pharmacists and administrative staff.
• More NHS jobs and better opportunities for people under 25 who have recently left college or university to gain their first experience without being rejected because they haven't previously worked in the sector.
• More apprenticeships, supported employment, work experience and development opportunities within the NHS.
• More funding for NHS services.
• Better mental-health support for patients and staff.
• More staff wellbeing support.
• Better training for NHS workers in learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, mental health, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Better training in data protection and cyber security.
• More training and development opportunities so NHS staff can progress throughout their careers.
• Better patient support for people who need additional help while in hospital.
• More reasonable adjustments and better accessibility.
• More education and awareness about autism, learning disabilities and disabilities in schools and colleges through talks, lessons, conferences and interactive sessions.
• More use of AI and assistive technology where it genuinely improves care and reduces unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Better hospital catering, food and drink choices and improved patient facilities.
• Faster support from A&E and minor injury services.
• Better safeguarding training and practice.
• Faster, safer hospital discharge when someone is genuinely ready to return home.
• Better links between hospitals, Adult Social Care, carers and care providers so people aren't unnecessarily kept in hospital.
• Fairer pay and funding for NHS staff.
• Better staff pensions.
• More co-production, with patients, carers and people with lived experience helping design NHS services.
I also want better pharmacy services, more qualified pharmacy staff, faster prescriptions and shorter pharmacy waiting times.
I want more GP appointments and better access to nurses and other healthcare professionals.
AI should also be used responsibly to improve things such as appointment booking, prescription processing and administrative systems — freeing staff to spend more time with patients.
The NHS should provide better care throughout someone's life, including maternity and baby services, vaccinations, pharmacy services, mental-health services and preventative healthcare.
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❤️ ADULT SOCIAL CARE
Adult Social Care needs significant investment and reform.
I want:
• Shorter waiting lists and referral times.
• More social workers, occupational therapists, nurses, commissioners, care workers and administrative staff.
• Better mental-health support.
• Better social-work and occupational-therapy support.
• Faster assessments and better support plans.
• Faster and safer hospital discharge.
• More carers and care providers available to support people when they return home.
• More use of AI and assistive technology to help people become more independent.
• More assistive technology in people's homes and communities.
• More technology to support staff with administration and processes.
• Apps that can help people manage anxiety, depression, stress, ADHD, OCD, autism and other difficulties before they reach crisis point.
• Mental-health and wellbeing apps with journalling, calming exercises, meditation, grounding techniques, emergency contacts and crisis support.
• More support for people with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities and mental-health needs.
• Faster EHCP referrals and better support for adults who still have EHCPs after leaving school.
• Faster and more accessible diagnostic pathways.
• Better support following diagnosis.
• More thorough and conclusive occupational therapy assessments so people receive the support they actually need.
• Continued development of tools such as Genie and Magic Notes to support residents and social-care staff.
• More mental-health units and better professional support for people experiencing serious mental-health difficulties.
• More counsellors, social workers, occupational therapists, commissioners and administrative staff.
• More opportunities for people under 25 to enter Adult Social Care without unnecessary experience barriers.
• More apprenticeships, supported employment, supported internships and development programmes.
• Better workforce training in safeguarding, mental health, carers, commissioning, equality, diversity and inclusion, learning disabilities, autism, occupational therapy and social work.
• Better training around supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities and mental-health conditions.
• Fairer pay for staff.
• Fairer funding for carers and unpaid carers.
• Better pensions.
• More community groups, clubs and places for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental-health difficulties to socialise and make friends.
• More support for people who need benefits.
• More research into Adult Social Care.
• More services shaped through co-production and lived experience.
• Better support for adults in education and college.
• Better support for people transitioning between education, social care and employment.
• More grants and support for small and medium-sized employers so they can create jobs.
Social Care should help people live their lives, not simply manage crises.
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👧 CHILDREN'S SOCIAL CARE
Children deserve help before they reach crisis point.
I want:
• Better children's mental-health support.
• Earlier mental-health intervention.
• More counsellors and therapists.
• More school-based mental-health support.
• Better CAMHS.
• More children's mental-health units.
• Better safeguarding.
• More social workers.
• Lower caseloads and shorter waiting times.
• Fairer pay and funding for Children's Social Care.
• Better support for unpaid carers and families.
• More foster carers.
• Better support for children with autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and complex needs.
• Better staff training in autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, complex needs, safeguarding, data protection and cyber security.
• Faster autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other assessments.
• Faster EHCP processes.
• More support for schools and parents completing EHCP applications.
• Better support once an EHCP is in place.
• Better occupational therapy assessments.
• More use of AI and apps to support children and professionals.
• Mental-health apps where children can record worries, journal, use breathing exercises, listen to calming music and access emergency support.
• Better support for care leavers.
• A much smoother transition from care into adulthood.
• Better housing, employment, education and independent-living opportunities for care leavers.
• More apprenticeships, supported internships and work experience.
• More opportunities for young people to enter Children's Social Care without unnecessary experience barriers.
• More careers advisers.
• More teachers, SENCOs, occupational therapists, counsellors and mental-health nurses.
• Better school nurses.
• More specialist schools for children with complex needs, learning disabilities, autism and physical disabilities.
• Better children's wards and better training for NHS staff working with children with additional needs.
• Better support for parents.
• More youth cafés, community centres, clubs and activities.
• More things for children and young people to do outside school.
• Stronger anti-bullying policies.
• Appropriate consequences for serious behaviour while ensuring children are understood and supported.
• More physical education.
• Healthier food and better nutrition in education.
• Less unnecessary pressure surrounding GCSE grades.
• Better careers advice showing children that university isn't the only route.
Children should be supported to become happy, confident and independent adults.
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🏫 SCHOOLS AND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
I want to rebuild and improve our education system.
Schools should not just prepare children for exams.
They should prepare them for life.
I want:
• Stronger anti-bullying policies and zero tolerance for bullying.
• More 1-to-1 support.
• More teaching assistants and learning support assistants.
• Smaller classroom environments where appropriate for students with additional needs.
• Better SENCO support.
• More SEN hubs.
• Better pastoral and student-support services.
• More school counsellors.
• More wellbeing officers.
• More careers advisers.
• More mentors.
• More school nurses.
• Better teacher training.
• More staff training days.
• Better training in autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health and complex needs.
• More training around safeguarding.
• Quiet and safe spaces where students can take a break when overwhelmed.
• Sensory-friendly environments.
• Private spaces where students can speak to trusted staff.
• Quiet places to eat lunch.
• Buddy systems linking younger and older students so children have someone they can ask for help.
• More practical and hands-on lessons.
• More life-skills education, including cooking, budgeting, applying for jobs, communication and social skills.
• More education about disability, neurodiversity, mental health and inclusion.
• Teaching children about acceptance, empathy, kindness and understanding.
• Meaningful assemblies.
• Better support for students who struggle with attendance.
Instead of immediately judging a child who isn't attending school, we should ask:
Why don't they want to come?
Is there bullying?
Are they overwhelmed?
Are they struggling with SEND?
Are they anxious?
Are they struggling at home?
Are they finding the classroom environment too difficult?
We need to understand the reason before deciding the solution.
I also want:
• Better SEND funding.
• EHCPs delivered properly.
• Less bureaucracy and fewer barriers to support.
• More specialist schools.
• More 1-to-1 support where needed.
• More supported internships and apprenticeships.
• More careers education.
• More clubs, hobbies and activities.
• Better transport options.
• More free school meals.
• More physical education.
• Less unnecessary screen time.
• More opportunities for face-to-face social interaction.
• Clear and consistent behaviour, uniform and punctuality expectations.
• Calm rather than aggressive discipline.
• Teachers who listen to students and parents.
• Schools that work with parents rather than automatically blaming them.
• Greater involvement of children, parents, staff and people with lived experience in shaping education.
Students should be treated fairly and equally, but that doesn't necessarily mean treating everyone identically.
Equality means giving people the support they need to have the same opportunity to succeed.
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🏛️ LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Local government is essential to the country.
I want:
• More sustainable funding for councils.
• Fair pay and pensions for local authority workers.
• More jobs and career opportunities.
• More apprenticeships.
• More supported internships.
• More DFN Project SEARCH-style opportunities.
• More opportunities for under-25s entering the workforce.
• More affordable housing.
• More council housing.
• Better planning.
• Better roads.
• Potholes fixed.
• Safer roads.
• Better bypasses, dual carriageways and motorways where appropriate.
• Better public transport.
• More buses and trains.
• Less congestion.
• More trees and environmental improvements.
• More libraries.
• More parks.
• More leisure centres and swimming facilities.
• More community drop-in centres.
• More places for people to socialise.
• Shorter waiting times for council services.
• Better customer-service centres.
• Better use of data.
• More self-service options.
• Apps and digital services.
• Responsible use of AI and chatbots.
• Better communication with residents.
• More surveys and community engagement.
• More co-production.
• More Experts by Experience.
• Better equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Better safeguarding and data-protection training.
• Better building-control checks.
• More disability-confident employers.
• More research opportunities.
• More workforce opportunities across local government.
• Better workforce standards.
Local people should have a genuine say in the services they receive.
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💷 THE ECONOMY AND BUSINESSES
I want an economy that works for ordinary people, communities and businesses.
That means:
• More government support for small and medium-sized businesses.
• Grants to help SMEs survive and grow.
• Support for shops, pubs, cafés and hospitality.
• Support for local high streets.
• Incentives to shop locally.
• More local suppliers.
• More investment in market towns.
• More independent businesses alongside larger employers.
• More qualified workers.
• More apprenticeships.
• More supported internships.
• More jobs for young people leaving college and university.
• Better support for people who don't know what their next career step should be.
• Fairer pay.
• Better pensions.
• Stronger employment opportunities.
• Better support for disabled people and neurodivergent people.
• More disability-confident employers.
• More places for people experiencing loneliness to meet others and build friendships.
I want a stronger UK economy where businesses aren't simply expected to survive on their own.
Government should help create the conditions for businesses to grow, employ people and contribute to their communities.
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🚓 PUBLIC SERVICES
Our public services need investment too.
I want:
• Fairer pay.
• Better pensions.
• More staff.
• Better funding.
• Better mental-health support.
• Counselling and wellbeing support.
• Better training.
• More qualified staff.
• Better career development.
• Better training around autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health.
This includes our police, fire services, ambulance services, armed forces and other essential public services.
The people who protect and support the public deserve to be supported themselves.
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💼 JOBS AND CAREERS
Nobody should be told:
"You can't get a job because you don't have experience."
How is someone supposed to gain experience if nobody gives them their first opportunity?
I want:
• More funding for employers to create jobs.
• More graduate opportunities.
• More apprenticeships.
• More supported internships.
• More supported employment.
• More work experience.
• More mentoring.
• More careers advisers in schools, colleges and universities.
• Better career-development programmes.
• More opportunities for people under 25.
• More disability-confident employers.
• Better support for people who cannot work.
• Better benefits for people who genuinely need them.
• Fairer pay.
• Better pensions.
• Stronger workplace rights.
• Fair treatment for employees and employers.
• Better opportunities for people to progress in their careers.
Work should provide people with dignity, security and the opportunity to build a future.
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🤝 THE BIGGER PICTURE
When I look at everything above, there is one common theme.
Prevention.
Let's support people before they reach crisis point.
Let's give young people opportunities before they become unemployed.
Let's support families before they break down.
Let's support children before they reach crisis.
Let's support people with disabilities before they are excluded.
Let's support businesses before they close.
Let's support carers before they burn out.
Let's support public-sector workers before they become exhausted.
Let's invest in our NHS and social care before waiting lists become unmanageable.
Let's give councils the resources they need before services collapse.
And let's listen to the people who actually use these services.
That means co-production.
Patients.
Carers.
Children.
Parents.
Disabled people.
Neurodivergent people.
Teachers.
Nurses.
Doctors.
Social workers.
Occupational therapists.
Care workers.
Local authority workers.
Businesses.
Young people.
Older people.
And everyone else with lived experience.
Government shouldn't simply design services for people.
It should design them with people.
🇬🇧 This is the Britain I want to see.
A Britain where public services are properly supported.
A Britain where people can get help before reaching crisis.
A Britain where young people can get their first job.
A Britain where disabled and neurodivergent people are included.
A Britain where businesses and high streets can thrive.
A Britain where schools support the whole child, not just their grades.
A Britain where councils have the funding and powers they need.
A Britain where carers are valued.
A Britain where staff are fairly paid and properly trained.
A Britain where technology and AI make services better rather than simply replacing human contact.
A Britain where lived experience matters.
And ultimately:
A Britain that invests in people.
Because if we invest in people today, we can build a healthier, happier, more inclusive, more prosperous and more resilient country tomorrow. 🇬🇧❤️
