Labor Prime Minister Burnham Advocates for Palliative Care

– Andy Drozdziak, OSV News

Bishops in the United Kingdom and leaders of Catholic organizations have welcomed the support of the new Catholic prime minister, Andy Burnham, to palliative care. In addition, Catholic charities have been encouraged to draw on their faith to support the poor and take action against the climate crisis.

Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool, the lead bishop for life issues at the Catholic Bishops“ Conference of England and Wales, has publicly endorsed Burnham’s call for ”palliative care services to receive adequate funding.”.

Significant Support for Palliative Care

Prime Minister Burnham has stated that it is necessary to “address” the funding of palliative care and social services so that vulnerable people can have “peace of mind” regarding the care they receive at the end of their lives.

“It is highly significant that the Prime Minister has reaffirmed his position on the need for adequate palliative and social care ahead of the second reading (in September) of the bill on terminally ill adults (end-of-life care), which contains fundamental flaws,” Archbishop Sherrington said in a July 29 statement. 

Another vote on assisted dying on September 11

Following the failure of the first attempt to legalize euthanasia in the British Parliament last spring, it is expected that another try to introduce the bill on September 11.

“People who are dying are vulnerable and need compassionate care and spiritual support until their last breath,” said Archbishop Sherrington, urging lawmakers to “vote against this dangerous legislation” during the September 11 session “and to work together to ensure that our palliative care and social services can be held up as examples of truly dignified end-of-life care for everyone.”.

“We have consistently advocated for significant investment in palliative and end-of-life care as an appropriate approach to upholding the dignity of all at the end of life, and we have opposed a bill that seeks to legalize assisted suicide,” Archbishop Sherrington added.

Burnham: “Catholic social teaching underpins my politics”

Burnham, the first British prime minister born into the Catholic faith, has long spoken about the influence his faith has on his political views, stating, “Catholic social teaching underpins my politics.”.

As soon as Burnham took office as prime minister, messages began to arrive urging him to put his faith into practice.

His Catholic influence: ending poverty 

Burnham’s Catholic influence was evident even before he took office, as he visited The Passage, a charity for the homeless in London, just hours before his appointment. The Passage’s values and philosophy are inspired by the teachings and example of St. Vincent de Paul. During his inaugural address as prime minister, Burnham promised to “end homelessness in our country.”.

“It’s about putting the right values and standards at the heart of government,” he said on July 20.

Caritas Salford is a charity that helps homeless people and those living in poverty in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, where Burnham served as mayor. Burnham, who was once an altar boy, previously served as Secretary of State for Culture and Secretary of State for Health before becoming mayor in 2017.

Referring to his own interactions with Burnham, Director Patrick O’Dowd told OSV News that “Andy Burnham has visited our Cornerstone day center in Manchester, which provides support to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.”. 

O’Dowd praised Burnham’s commitment to ending homelessness, describing Burnham as «a leader who is undoubtedly aware of the importance of Catholic social teaching.».

Call for Urgent Help for Children Living in Extreme Poverty

Caritas Salford is appealing for urgent help for children living in extreme poverty, after recent data revealed that many children live in precarious conditions and arrive at school with holes in their shoes. 

O’Dowd said, “We see all too often families living in cold, damp homes. We want Andy Burnham to drive rapid change and to put people at the center of the decisions he makes.”.

In October 2025, during a lecture given by Theos, a group of religious experts, Burnham advocated for a new approach to politics based on “trust, community, faith, beliefs, and connection.”. 

Ending homelessness is not the only issue that Catholics want the new prime minister to address from a Catholic perspective. The British Catholic aid organization CAFOD is urging Burnham to draw on his Catholic faith to take decisive action on the climate crisis and support the poorest countries.

In February 2025, the government announced that the foreign aid budget would be reduced from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national product, and later added that the money saved would be used to fund defense spending. 

“The issue of foreign aid is crucial”

Neil Thorns, director of advocacy and education at CAFOD, told OSV News on July 22: “The issue of foreign aid is crucial. We want the aid budget to be restored. For us, as Catholics, it is an expression of our solidarity with our brothers and sisters.”. 

Thorns added that Burnham should focus on «issues of financial reform» and allow «countries to work toward a prosperous future.».

In a letter In a letter dated July 16 addressed to Burnham, CAFOD pledged, along with other faith-based charities, to “work side by side with you in the service of the common good.”.

The letter urged Burnham to “put the climate and nature at the center of his government’s mission” and to provide “clean and affordable energy.” CAFOD also asked Burnham to “take a strong lead as G20 chair, taking action on debt, taxation, and illicit financial flows.”.

Proposal from Private Lenders and Debt Relief

With a focus on debt relief, CAFOD wants the government to pass a law requiring private lenders to participate in debt relief on the same terms as other lenders, so that they can no longer reap huge profits from countries struggling with unsustainable debt. 

Thorns told OSV News that the debt crisis “is affecting these low-income countries and preventing them from investing in climate change response, health care, and education. ”Burnham really needs to look beyond our national borders and see the world as Catholic social teaching teaches us: How do you recognize your brothers and sisters around the world?”

Catholic charities also have high hopes that Burnham will make an impact on justice issues. The Catholic justice group Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has invited Burnham to discuss how to “build thriving communities,” while the UK Jesuit Refugee Service has urged the British prime minister to “build a humane asylum system.”.

Respect for Human Dignity at a Decisive Moment

In his congratulatory message on July 20, Archbishop Richard Moth of Westminster, president of the bishops“ conference, called on Burnham to ”respond with genuine concern and respect for human dignity and for the needs of families, the marginalized, and the vulnerable.”.

Meanwhile, Bishop Peter Collins of East Anglia has described the reintroduction of the bill on terminally ill adults (palliative care) as a “defining moment for our country,” and has called for more resources to be allocated to palliative care services. 

Bishop Collins stated that the bill “leaves many questions unresolved regarding its practical implementation and its far-reaching implications for people with disabilities or those who are vulnerable.”.

“Instead of considering assisted suicide, our society should address the need to establish and fund a universal palliative care system throughout the country,” the bishop added.

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Andy Drozdziak writes for OSV News from Barnard Castle, England.

This information was originally published in OSV News, and you can read it there here.