Lib Dems urge Labour to increase carer’s allowance to boost growth

Sir Ed, who is an unpaid carer for his disabled son John, is calling for a 24 per cent increase in the weekly carer’s allowance, from £81.90 to £101.90.

He said: “Standing up for carers is deeply personal to me.

“Looking after my mum when I was young and now for my son John, caring for loved ones is an amazing but at times an immensely challenging task.

“The previous Conservative government utterly failed to recognise the vital work that these incredible carers do and treated them as an afterthought.

“What is worse, on their watch they hounded thousands of carers in the overpayments scandal because of the disgraceful ‘cliff-edge’ for support.

“This new government now has the challenge of reversing these years of neglect and giving carers the support they desperately need and deserve.”

Labour has been urged to invest in care more widely to improve growth.

A report from the Future Social Care Coalition last year found that every £1 invested in social care, £1.75 ended up back in the economy.

Mike Padgham, who runs Saint Cecilia’s Care Group in Scarborough, told the Yorkshire Post that “the majority of politicians seem to portray social care as a negative feature”.

However, he said, if the government can bring in reforms, the care sector will “keep people in work, put money back into taxes and the economy, and help bring NHS waiting lists down”.

“My worry has always been about the government not quite connecting the link between the workforce and the growth in the economy, and those who might have to give up their work to care for a loved one,” Mr Padgham, who is also chair of the Independent Care Group, said.

A government spokesperson said: “Our country would grind to a halt without the millions of carers who provide care and continuity of support for vulnerable people every day.

“We recognise the challenges they are facing, and we are determined to provide unpaid carers with the support they deserve.