September and October was dominated by the 2025 party conferences, each setting out competing visions for the economy, public services, and the future of health and social care. Labour focused on growth, fairness, and reform, announcing a £500 million Fair Pay Agreement for care workers, the launch of NHS Online, and consultation on a 10-year plan for the sector. Conservatives centred their agenda on fiscal restraint and reform, pledging £47 billion in spending cuts, the abolition of Stamp Duty, and renewed cross-party talks on social-care sustainability. The Liberal Democrats prioritised local health access and community responders, while the Greens advanced redistributive and environmental measures. Reform UK adopted a hard line on immigration and tax reduction. Across all parties, social care featured more prominently than in recent years, with broad recognition that the sector’s workforce, funding, and integration with the NHS remain central to national recovery.
Policy Highlights
PMQs – Wednesday 3 September 2025
Ed Davey (Lib Dem Leader)
“The European convention on human rights is a British creation that protects all our basic rights and freedoms: the rights of children, disabled people, survivors of domestic abuse, victims of horrific crime—everyone. It protects care home residents from abuse and families from being spied on by councils, but the leader of the Conservative party and the leader of Reform want to join Russia and Vladimir Putin by withdrawing from the convention.”
PMQs Wednesday 10 September 2025
Ed Davey MP (Lib Dem Leader)
“When I talk to parents of disabled children, there is one complaint about Government that comes up time and again: all the hoops that parents must jump through, be it dealing with EHCPs, the DWP or HMRC. Caring is exhausting enough without all the forms, and the rules that show no understanding of the realities of life as a carer. That is something that Emily and I know well, and something that the former Deputy Prime Minister brought attention to last week. Will the Prime Minister work with carers across the House to overhaul systems for family carers, so that Government works much better for people looking after their loved ones?
The Prime Minister
“I agree with the right hon. Gentleman; there are too many hurdles and too many hoops that have to be gone through. That is why we are simplifying the system, and we will, of course, work across the House with all those who want to achieve that outcome.
May I also thank those dealing with suicide prevention? Probably everybody in this House knows someone who has taken their life. It touches all of us and we must do everything we can, together, to prevent suicide.”
Conference Season
See the full notes from conference season here
Labour Party Conference
Follow Care England’s Cai Parry as he reports daily from the 2025 Labour Party Conference. Each update will capture the key announcements from Labour alongside exclusive insights into Care England’s activity and discussions at the event. Click here.
Labour focused on economic growth, higher living standards, and reforming public services. The government announced “NHS Online”, aiming to deliver 8.5 million extra appointments through AI and digital tools, alongside 43 pilot sites testing community-based care models. A £500 million Fair Pay Agreement for care workers was confirmed to improve pay and conditions, and consultation began on a 10-year plan for health and social care. Immigration rules tightened, doubling the residence requirement for indefinite leave to remain. Labour also advanced policies on childcare, youth employment, and renewable energy investment, with higher taxes expected in the November Budget.
Conservative Party Conference
Kemi Badenoch announced the abolition of Stamp Duty on primary residences, a reduction of the civil service to 2016 levels, and a ban on doctors’ strikes. Her new “Golden Rule” commits at least half of departmental savings to deficit reduction and the rest to tax cuts. Stuart Andrew reaffirmed the NHS’s “free at the point of use” principle and highlighted cross-party talks on long-term social-care reform, focusing on prevention, integration, and innovation rather than new funding. Health and Social Care guest speakers including Dr Robert Kilgour and Dr Kartik Cavay called for urgent, cross-party action on social care and decentralised, private-sector-style health delivery. Fiscal announcements included £47 billion in spending cuts, while Chris Philp’s BORDERS Plan proposed leaving the ECHR and sharply restricting migration posing risks to care-sector recruitment. Helen Whately pledged welfare reforms to move more British citizens into work, including social care.
Liberal Democrat Conference
The Liberal Democrats focused on public-service improvement and electoral reform, proposing £50 million a year to reopen ambulance stations, ensure clinical oversight in A&E, and expand community first responders. They committed to guaranteed GP appointments within seven days (urgent within 24 hours) and opposed inheritance-tax and NIC changes. Their tax platform included a windfall tax on banks to finance energy-bill cuts and relief for hospices and hospitality. On foreign and economic policy, the party reaffirmed its aim for closer cooperation with the EU to boost growth.
Green Party Conference
The Greens called for bold redistributive measures to tackle inequality and the climate crisis, including a wealth tax on the top 1%, universal free childcare, and greater funding for SEND and rural transport. They reiterated plans to abolish private water companies, introduce rent controls, end the Right to Buy scheme, and expand social housing. The party linked climate and cost-of-living pressures, arguing that both disproportionately harm poorer communities. On immigration, the Greens emphasised that migrants and refugees are welcome in the UK.
Reform UK Conference
Reform UK pledged to remove 600,000 asylum seekers, leave the European Convention on Human Rights, and replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights—changes that could affect judicial oversight in social care. They maintained opposition to net-zero commitments and proposed sweeping tax reforms: abolishing inheritance tax, raising the personal allowance, and cutting income tax. Although no new health or social-care policies were unveiled, Reform reaffirmed its stance on restoring winter fuel payments for all pensioners and ending the two-child benefit cap.
Legislation
Employment Rights Bill
Volume 772: debated on Monday 15 September 2025
See the transcript and notes here
The Employment Rights Bill (2025) is a landmark reform to strengthen workplace protections and “make work pay.” It compels employers to offer guaranteed hours to zero-hours staff, introduces compensation for cancelled shifts, and provides day-one unfair dismissal rights supported by a statutory probation period. Exploitative fire-and-rehire tactics are outlawed, and non-disclosure agreements used to silence victims of harassment or discrimination will be void.
A new Fair Work Agency will centralise enforcement, while reforms modernise trade union recognition, restore opt-out political funds, and adjust tribunal and pension processes.
Adult social care is a highlighted priority: the Bill establishes fair pay agreements to end unpaid travel time, strengthen sick pay, and address exploitative rostering. Debate framed this as essential to protect a workforce undervalued for too long.
Overall, the Bill is ambitious and far-reaching. Its true impact will depend on secondary legislation setting key details such as reference periods, probation rules, and enforcement powers.
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
Volume 848: debated on Friday 12 September 2025
Volume 848: debated on Friday 19 September 2025
See the transcripts and notes here
The debates around the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill demonstrate a clash of principles and practicalities. The Bill proposes a terminal-illness assisted-dying framework with eligibility limited to those with a prognosis of death within six months, assessed through a multi-layered safeguard process. Supporters emphasise autonomy, dignity, and the inadequacy of the current legal situation, while opponents raise concerns about prognostic uncertainty, coercion, inadequate scrutiny of delegated powers, and the risk that poor provision of palliative and adult social care makes assisted dying a false choice. The most sustained policy critiques centred on whether social care and palliative services must be improved before legalisation, whether the Bill delegates too much power to Ministers, and whether safeguards are sufficient to prevent pressure or abuse. Baroness Theresa May’s intervention encapsulated principled opposition, highlighting moral, procedural, and safeguarding objections in a way that set the tone for much of the debate.
Chamber Business
DWP Answers to Questions
Volume 772: debated on Monday 1 September 2025
See the notes and transcript here
This questions session to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions revealed the Labour government’s priorities: tackling child poverty through a forthcoming cross-government strategy, expanding free school meals, and creating a crisis and resilience fund; driving down economic inactivity with an £80 million trailblazer programme and a youth guarantee; reforming disability benefits and assessments while investing £3.8 billion in employment support for those with health conditions; and addressing welfare fraud and error with a major new Bill. Debate centred on welfare costs, with Conservatives demanding stricter eligibility limits while Ministers stressed fairness and investment in work. Pensions policy remains anchored in the triple lock, but debates continue over winter fuel payments and pension credit delays. Across the session, child poverty, NEETs, disability reform, and fairness in the welfare system dominated, marking a decisive shift in emphasis towards both reducing hardship and overhauling employment support.
Business of the House
Volume 772: debated on Thursday 4 September 2025
Ms Julie Minns MP
“I recently met a constituent of mine, Lou, who was part of a group that developed Turning Point and Learning Disability England’s information pack on “Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”. We know from LeDeR—learning disabilities mortality review—reports and other sources that too many learning disabled and autistic people die with a “do not resuscitate” order in place. Will the Leader of the House please arrange for the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to make a statement on the actions that have been taken to ensure that learning disabled people and their families are fully involved in and fully informed of any DNR decision?”
Lucy Powell MP(Leader of the House)
“My hon. Friend rightly raises a really important issue, which she has explained better than I could, about the challenges of DNRs, particularly for vulnerable people, and I hope that those involved will have listened to her question. I will ensure that she gets a full ministerial response and that the issue is looked at.”
Clive Jones MP
“Recently, I have had meetings with AI technology companies and medical professionals, seeing how AI can help speed up cancer diagnosis and make the NHS workforce much more efficient, ultimately saving lives. However, hospital systems and staff are not yet ready to start utilising new AI systems in diagnostics, so will the Leader of the House allow a debate in Government time so we can discuss a framework that hospital managers can adopt to implement AI diagnosis effectively and help save lives?”
Lucy Powell MP
“The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight the huge opportunity that AI and technology present, especially in terms of diagnostics and healthcare services. He is also right to highlight that the real challenge to that is adoption and diffusion through our health system. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is committed to delivering that by working across Government, and I am sure he will continue to keep the House updated.”
Indefinite Leave to Remain
Volume 772: debated on Monday 8 September 2025
See the notes and transcript here
The ILR debate exposed widespread unease over the government’s Immigration White Paper proposal to double the qualifying period for settlement from five to ten years. MPs across parties accepted the need for a managed migration system, but stressed that fairness, clarity and trust are paramount. Key concerns included the retrospective impact on families already here, the economic and social contributions of skilled workers in health, care and research, the risk of exploitation from longer dependence on visas, and the financial burdens of fees and surcharges. The moral case for retaining the five-year pathway for Hong Kong BNOs was especially strong, with Members warning that changes would betray Britain’s historic commitments. Universities, local services and the wider economy were also cited as at risk. The debate concluded with a clear cross-party message: reform must not undermine trust or penalise those who have already invested in Britain under existing rules.
HL: Labour Market
Volume 848: debated on Monday 8 September 2025
See the notes and transcript here
In the labour market debate Ministers stressed record employment, falling inactivity, and wage growth, while critics pointed to rising unemployment, falling vacancies, and weak graduate prospects. Key policy areas included skills reform (with Skills England’s 2030 priorities and the transfer of adult skills to DWP), employment rights (with Ministers defending the forthcoming Bill as pro-productivity), digital ID systems to tackle illegal working and exploitation, and universal credit reform to improve work incentives. Concerns about NI thresholds, in-work poverty, zero-hour contracts, and starting salary weakness were raised, alongside broader issues of public health, trade union disputes, and industrial strategy. The debate underscored the government’s determination to link labour market reform with skills, fairness, and inclusive growth, while critics warned that without deeper structural change the system risked leaving too many behind.
Treasury Answers to Questions
Volume 772: debated on Tuesday 9 September 2025
See the notes and transcript here
The Treasury Questions highlighted Labour’s economic priorities: a £725 billion 10-year infrastructure strategy, planning reforms to build 1.5 million homes, and the Better Futures Fund to support 200,000 vulnerable children. Ministers defended raising employer NICs while protecting small firms, rebalancing tax reliefs for farmers, and investing in hospices and public services. The Chancellor emphasised fiscal discipline and growth, declaring: “We have brought stability back to the economy.” Critics attacked tax rises and borrowing costs, but the Government framed them as the price of repairing “14 years of Tory failure.”
Neurodivergent People: Employment
Volume 772: debated on Tuesday 9 September 2025
See the notes and transcript here
The debate on Neurodivergent People and Employment highlighted both systemic failings and inspiring examples. Only 28–31% of autistic people are in work, compared with 82% of non-disabled people, and pay gaps remain severe. MPs from all parties condemned delays in the Access to Work scheme, describing it as a barrier rather than support. They called for specialist apprenticeships, supported internships, and early intervention in schools, as well as transport and rural access improvements.
Businesses such as Foxes Hotel, Harry Specters, and Switch Now were praised for pioneering inclusion. Minister Stephen Timms pledged reform through the Connect to Work programme, Access to Work changes, and an independent review led by Professor Amanda Kirby. He promised to reduce the “gap within the disability employment gap” and argued that better support is essential both for fairness and for economic growth.
Employment Rights: Impact on Businesses
Volume 772: debated on Tuesday 16 September 2025
See the notes and transcript here
The Employment Rights: Impact on Businesses debate pitted critics warning of higher costs, fewer jobs, and small business strain against supporters who argued that strong rights boost productivity and fairness. Lincoln Jopp (Con) said the Government had “significantly underestimated” the Bill’s £5bn cost, while Rachael Maskell (Ind) countered that “good workers’ rights are good people’s rights.” Jim Shannon (DUP) stressed the fragility of micro-businesses, and Sarah Olney (LD) criticised uncertainty caused by secondary legislation.
Minister Kate Dearden defended the Bill as “the single biggest upgrade of workers’ rights in a generation,” insisting that costs are manageable and benefits outweigh them. She pledged phased implementation and consultation, arguing that fairness will ultimately drive growth.
HL: Independent Commission on Adult Social Care
Volume 848: debated on Wednesday 17 September 2025
See the notes and transcript here
The Lords debate on the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care stressed the need to focus on working-age disabled adults as well as older people. Lord Harper warned that almost half of care spending is on working-age adults, urging integration with employment and benefits. Peers pressed for stronger links with local government, domiciliary care, housing choice, and transition support for young people.
Baroness Blake assured Members that Lady Casey’s review will be inclusive and “absolutely critical” to enabling people to live and work independently. Issues raised included intentional communities, the role of technology, entrepreneurship (Purple Shoots), and the caring responsibilities of disabled adults. The Commission will report in 2026, with phase two in 2028, aiming to design a fit-for-purpose, future-ready care system.
Committee Hearings
Health and Social Care Committee
9 September 2025 – The work of NHS England – Oral evidence
See the notes and transcript here
Witnesses:
- Sir Jim Mackey, Interim CEO at NHS England
- Glen Burley, Financial Reset Director and Accountability Director at NHS England
- Dr Claire Fuller, National Medical Director at NHS England
See the notes and transcript here
The Committee’s evidence session on adult social care painted a stark picture. Witnesses described a workforce crisis, councils on the brink of insolvency, and families facing “chaos not care.” They welcomed fair pay agreements and the Independent Commission but warned these will fail without sustainable national funding. MPs heard calls for proper integration with the NHS, more supported housing, and a cultural shift towards independence and wellbeing. The message was that the time for reviews is over, delivery is now essential.
Health and Social Care Committee
10 September 2025 – Community Mental Health Services – Oral evidence
See the notes and transcript here
Witnesses:
- The Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health at Department of Health and Social Care
- Caroline Allnutt, Deputy Director for Serious Mental Illness and Offender Health at Department of Health and Social Care
- Gareth Harry, Director of Delivery, Mental Health Learning Disability and Autism at NHS England
See the notes and transcript here
The Committee heard evidence on the future of community mental health services. Pilots of 24/7 neighbourhood centres were welcomed as transformative but raised concerns about unequal access and workforce capacity. The Government argued they build on existing services, with outreach and a “one door” principle to improve access. MPs pressed for waiting time standards and highlighted “patchy” implementation of previous frameworks.
On the Mental Health Bill, the removal of detention on grounds of autism or learning disability was praised, but witnesses admitted reforms cannot begin until community services are strengthened creating risks of delay. Suicide prevention and family involvement were emphasised, with data showing 13% of suicides occur within three months of discharge.
Funding remains contested: ringfenced development funds have ended, replaced by baseline allocations for ICBs, raising fears of a postcode lottery. Ministers insisted on national standards but defended local flexibility. The voluntary sector was acknowledged as crucial but in need of longer-term contracts.
Overall, MPs welcomed ambition but warned that without resources, standards and monitoring, transformation risks faltering.
Public Accounts Committee
11 September 2025 – Reducing NHS waiting times for elective care – Oral evidence
See the notes and transcript here
Witnesses:
- Samantha Jones, Permanent Secretary at Department for Health and Social Care
- Matt Style, Director General, Secondary Care and Integration at Department for Health and Social Care
- Sir Jim Mackey, Interim Chief Executive at NHS England
- Mark Cubbon, Director, Elective Care, Cancer and Diagnostics at NHS England
- Professor Meghana Pandit, Co-Medical Director (Secondary Care) at NHS England
See the notes and transcript here
The Public Accounts Committee reviewed NHS efforts to cut elective waiting times. Community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs were praised for boosting capacity, but out-patient reform has failed badly, with targets missed and follow-ups barely reduced. Witnesses blamed industrial action, financial pressures, and slow clinical engagement.
MPs pressed on inequalities, rural access, and harm reviews for long-wait patients. The NHS acknowledged reliance on the independent sector but said funding constraints limit use. Governance was criticised, with the NAO citing delays and conflicting data.
Overall, while some progress is clear, MPs warned that without stronger accountability and clinician buy-in, the NHS risks pouring money into initiatives without cutting the waiting list meaningfully.
Care England’s Despatch Box: Our Right Honourable Responses to Parliament
The Fair Pay Agreement Resource Hub
The Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) is set to be one of the most consequential changes for the adult social care workforce in England. Under this new framework, care workers will have legally enforceable minimum standards covering pay, working hours, and additional employment conditions.
Adult Social Care Sector Unprepared for Terminally Ill Adults Bill, Warns Care England
Care England, the largest representative body for independent adult social care providers, has stressed that the adult social care sector urgently requires a clear roadmap for the implementation of the Terminally Ill Adults (TIA) Bill. Care England takes no position on the principle of the Bill itself. However, as the leading voice for adult social care providers, it has a duty to ensure the concerns of the sector are heard. Unless implementation is carefully planned, the Bill could introduce challenges for providers and staff supporting people in care.
Terminally Ill Adults Bill – Current Status and Key Provisions of the Bill
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced into Parliament on 11 November as a Private Members Bill, by Kim Leadbeater MP (Labour). This Bill would enable adults who are terminally ill to request and receive lawful assistance to end their lives, subject to meeting clear eligibility criteria and passing through a regulated process. The intention is to allow individuals a dignified and peaceful death, under strict safeguards to prevent abuse. If passed, care services may become the place where someone chooses to end their life. Care England takes no position on the principle of the Bill itself. This briefing is produced to inform members about the current status of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, to share results and analysis of Care England’s snap survey and key provisions of the Bill affecting the sector.
Employment Tribunals: What every employer needs to know | Download your FREE guide
Tribunal claims are one of the biggest risks facing UK employers and with the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) and the creation of the new Fair Work Agency (FWA) set to overhaul enforcement, the stakes are rising fast.
Leading Social Care Representative Renews Calls to End the “Postcode Lottery” in Continuing Healthcare
Care England, the largest and most diverse representative of adult social care providers in England, has today renewed its calls to reform the NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding stream in response to a report published by the Nuffield Trust exposing huge inequalities, describing it as a “postcode lottery”.
Leading Social Care Representative Calls for Government to “Dig Deeper” on Fair Pay Agreement
Care England, the largest and most diverse representative of adult social care providers in England, has today (30 September) responded to the Government’s announcement of a £500m funding package to establish the UK’s first Fair Pay Agreement for care workers.
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