Carers are living in uncertainty as they wait to see where the Tories’ axe will fall next

Carers Week is a welcome opportunity to reflect on the huge contribution that carers make to our society. Over 6.5 million people in the UK are caring for someone who is older, disabled or seriously ill. That means if you’re reading this in an office, on the train or in a cafe, the odds are that one in 8 of your fellow colleagues, passengers or customers are carers. Some will be spending their weekends and evenings looking after a loved one, others will have had to give up their job or reduce their hours because of their caring responsibilities.

Too often, the amazing work that carers do is taken for granted. Out of sight and out of mind. We rightly recognise the heroes who fight for our country and the heroes who teach our children. But the heroes in our communities who care for their parents, neighbours and friends go unrecognised and without the support they deserve. 

Last year I met Paul and Sue Rutherford who are full time carers for their severely disabled grandson despite being disabled themselves. The unconditional love and care they give him is humbling, but the stress and strain was also clear to see. Sadly, rather than being supported by the government, Paul and Sue are among 60,000 carers hit by David Cameron’s Bedroom Tax because of an extra room they need for the overnight carers who occasionally stay to give them a break. They now face a constant battle to pay the rent. 

Carers like the Rutherford’s need a government that is on their side. But instead they are living with even more uncertainty as they wait to see where the Tories’ axe will fall next. 

A DWP document leaked during the election campaign revealed that as part of their plans to cut £12bn from the welfare bill, the Tories are considering cutting Carers Allowance, limiting it to those receiving Universal Credit. This would mean 40 per cent of people losing this vital support.

Labour’s manifesto made clear that we value carers and will give them the support they need and deserve. As well as scrapping the Bedroom Tax, we pledged a new duty on the NHS to identify carers, a right for family carers to ask for an annual health check, help with hospital car parking costs and one clear contact in the NHS for care services. These are practical measures that would make a real difference to carers’ lives.

Carers hold families together and save our NHS billions of pounds each year. The government needs to show it recognises their contribution by ruling out further cuts to the support carers rely on.

Kate Green MP is Labour’s shadow minister for Disabled People