Chaired by Louise Casey, the commission is set to make its first recommendations for the medium-term in 2026 with a second phase of recommendations on longer-term reforms to follow in 2028. 

The Government has justified the delay by stressing the need to first seek cross-party approval. 

Bearing in mind it has a huge working majority of over 160 seats, there has been more than a pinch of cynicism directed towards this reasoning, which may be more about sharing any potential fall-out from the plans rather than seeking general consensus. 

Labour, as the Conservatives, has been bitten before on social care reform and does not want to be saddled with such a potentially politically toxic label again. 

Critics have also suggested that by kicking the reforms three years down the road the Government may be even seeking to avoid implementation before the next General Election which is due by August 2029. 

Whatever the reasoning behind the timing of Labour's plans, there is near universal consensus they need to be delivered much sooner with social care struggling to recruit enough workers, local authorities overwhelmed by ballooning adult social care costs, families facing enormous care costs and hospitals unable to discharge patients due to a lack of social care services.