How did you first become concerned with the precarious position of unpaid carers across the UK?
Unpaid carers have been integral to Liberal Democrat policy for some time. Ed Davey, the party leader, is himself a carer for his disabled son and has spoken about his role as a young carer for both his mother and grandmother. When I entered Parliament in 2019, and especially as a result of being an MP through the pandemic, it became increasingly clear to me that unpaid carers were being too often forgotten.
I remember how unpaid carers were left off the priority list when Covid vaccines were first rolled out, and it was only our party who called for them to be included. It highlighted how despite how vital carers are as part of our society, they were being ignored and unappreciated.
Given your work in sponsoring and supporting the Carer's Leave Act through Parliament, how do you feel about it finally coming into force on April 6th?
I am absolutely delighted that the Act is coming into force. When I was elected in 2019, I had no idea that within five years I would be able to play such an important role in passing a landmark new law. I’ll admit, some of this is down to luck – I came out of the Private Member’s Bill ballot in the first instance!
My colleague Alistair Carmichael has been an MP for over 20 years and has never been successful. But the important thing is how you use your luck, and I knew that I wanted to make a real difference, not just to make a political or campaigning point.
Knowing that as a result of this law, millions of people – and millions more to come – will have their first statutory employment rights as unpaid carer is something I am very proud to have played a part in.
Polling produced as part of the Caring Unseen report shows that just 12 per cent of England's unpaid carers have a 'good understanding' of the Act. Is this lack of awareness a concern for you?
It is a massive concern for me because people need to know what they are entitled to in order to use it. If carers are unaware that they are entitled to leave, they simply will not take it.
I am deeply concerned that the Government hasn’t done enough to tell people about the new rights. They could have done this by identifying people receiving carers allowance, through information in hospitals and GP surgeries, or even just through advertising.
I am deeply concerned that the Government hasn’t done enough to tell people about the new rights
I have asked the Government about this and will continue to push them to do more to communicate the new law because I do not want anyone to miss out on what they are entitled to. In the meantime, I will continue to work with charities such as Carers UK, and talk about the law at every chance I can.
There are calls for the leave carers will become entitled to become paid. How could that be introduced without significantly impacting small and medium-sized businesses already struggling in a time of recession and soaring costs?
I fully understand the need to balance supporting employers and employees. At the end of the day, businesses have to be commercially viable in order to offer jobs in the first place. However, I have met with several companies during this process who already offer paid carers leave. My conversations with them highlighted that in the long run, it is financially beneficial for companies to offer paid carers leave.
It brings several benefits through higher motivation, less sick leave, and higher retention rates. It really is a win-win for both employers and employees. But you’re right, businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones need supporting – and there are many ways the Government could do that if they wanted, for example by reforming Business Rates. They could do this whilst also helping carers stay in work.
Finally, the polling also revealed that, among unpaid carers, only six per cent plan to vote for the Liberal Democrats. Given the party has positioned itself as the most ambitious on social care, what more should your party do to translate your bold policies into electoral success
The Liberal Democrats support unpaid carers because it is the right thing to do, not because we think it is the key to electoral success – although of course it is disappointing if the people we want to help aren’t aware of those policies!
We know that lots of voters don’t get into the details of different party’s policies until manifestos are launched and a real choice is immediately in front of them. We are ambitious on social care and support for unpaid carers because these are important matters.
I am confident those numbers will change come election day, particularly once voters read our manifesto and see the positive change we want to bring.