Davey: This election is a chance to build a caring nation

EMBARGO: 22:30 Tuesday 2nd July

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey will say to voters on the eve of polling day (3rd July) that this election is a chance to “build a caring nation.” 

Drawing on his own experience as a carer, first as a child for his terminally ill mother and now for his disabled son John, Ed Davey will say he is so proud the Liberal Democrat campaign has “brought care out of the shadows” and said every Liberal Democrat MP elected will fight for care and carers.

The Liberal Democrats have put fixing the NHS and care at the heart of their manifesto, with a £9bn rescue package for services, paid for by taxing the big banks and billionaires. 

The party is committed to providing free personal care, increasing support for family carers including by boosting the Carer’s Allowance, and boosting pay for care workers through a new Carer’s Minimum Wage.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

“I’ve been a carer for much of my life, so I know how tough caring for a loved one can be but also how rewarding it is.

“Throughout this campaign, I’ve been so moved by all the people I’ve spoken to or who have got in touch to discuss their experiences caring for loved ones. There are millions of people around the country making big sacrifices, from the teenager looking after their ill mother to the parents caring for their disabled child.

“I am so proud that the Liberal Democrat campaign has brought care out of the shadows and into the light. We know that fixing care is essential to fixing the NHS. This election is a chance to build a caring nation, where we fix the social care crisis and give family carers the support they need.

“In many areas across the country, only the Liberal Democrats can beat the Conservatives and deliver the change people are crying out for. Every Liberal Democrat MP elected will fight every day for care and carers, and to rescue their local health and care services.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

During the campaign Ed Davey launched his party’s ‘A Fair Deal on Care’ manifesto which sets out key reforms including:

• Introducing free personal care in England, based on the model introduced by the Liberal Democrats in government in Scotland in 2002, so that provision is based on need, not ability to pay.
• Introducing a new £2-an-hour higher Care Workers Minimum Wage.
• Supporting unpaid carers by raising Carer’s Allowance, expanding it to more carers and reforming it to enable carers to work more without being penalised.
• Establishing a cross-party commission to forge a long-term agreement on sustainable funding for social care in England.