The Conservative leadership election 2022: Letters to the candidates

In a few weeks, the Conservative Party will announce the result of their leadership election, with the winner become the UK’s next Prime Minister. The Conservative leadership election was launched as a result of Boris Johnson in early July announcing his intention to resign as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party.

The contest has focused largely on issues such as taxation and net zero, while solutions to the cost of living crisis or the challenges in health and social care have received little attention.

BASW’s Chief Executive, Dr Ruth Allen, has now written to both leadership candidates about the need to address core issues such as poverty and social work services.

In the letter, Dr Allen said:

“Prevention can reduce costly interventions. This is true of health services, and it is also true of social work support. Reductions to local authority budgets have forced councils into prioritising statutory services, with preventative and early intervention services being cut. We are also aware that some statutory services are being deprioritised, which is leading to soaring demand for later stage crisis services. These cost a fortune in money, misery, and compounded needs in the long term. The next Prime Minister should recognise that prevention services can save money in the long-term, and they can deliver better outcomes for families.”

The result of the contest will announced on 5th September.