Whatever happens with the leadership, Labour must tackle the issue of social care head-on

A 2010 plan drawn up by the then health secretary, Andy Burnham, to levy a charge on estates to pay for universal social care was called a ‘death tax’ by the Tories. Seven years later Labour called Theresa May’s plan to pay for care ‘dementia tax’. Photograph: Neil Harrison/PA

If a new Labour leader wants to underline their determination to wrestle with Britain’s political challenges, it is hard to think of a better place to start than with the creaking social care settlement.

A new collection of essays, to be published by the Fabian Society soon, urges the government – whoever leads it – to crack on with creating a “national care service” more closely aligned to the NHS and ensure it is properly funded.