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A new book by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey shines a light on the lives of UK’s 7 million unpaid carers, who face pressures, poverty and institutionalized callousness, yet remain largely excluded from the political conversation.
The Magnificence of Family Carers: Recognizing the Unsung Heroes
In the UK, there exists an army of unpaid support that has been excluded from the political conversation. The word ‘care’ sits in a strange place in UK politics, combining an increasing sense of urgency with a maddening and very British vagueness. The reasons for the worsening care crisis are complex, involving demographics and funding issues.
However, the most pressing issue lies in understanding the needs of 7 million unpaid carers, whose lives are explored in a new book written by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey. The book delves into his own life story, including his experience of caring for his mother who passed away from cancer when he was still a teenager.
Unpaid carers are individuals who provide care and support to family members, friends, or neighbors without financial compensation.
According to a report by the UK's Office for National Statistics, there were over 9 million unpaid carers in England alone in 2020.
These carers dedicate an average of 30 hours per week to caring duties, often sacrificing their own health and wellbeing.
The emotional toll of caregiving can be significant, with many carers experiencing stress, anxiety, and 'depression.'
The author’s deep fears about the future that awaits his son after his parents have gone resonate with many parents whose children have special educational needs. The systems of government and politics are often criticized, and the archaic workings of what remains of the welfare state are repeatedly mentioned.
The Lives of Family Carers
What Davey calls family carers lead pressured, often sleepless, overburdened lives. Large numbers of them have to cope with mental health problems, and more than 1 million are reckoned to live in poverty. The monetary worth of what carers do has been calculated, putting the aggregate figure at about the same level as the UK’s annual spend on the NHS.
Family carers play a vital role in providing care and support to loved ones with physical, emotional, or cognitive disabilities.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 150 million people worldwide provide unpaid care to family members.
In the United States alone, over 43 million caregivers dedicate an average of 20 hours per week to caregiving duties.
Family carers often face challenges such as burnout, stress, and financial strain.
However, their contributions are invaluable in maintaining the quality of life for those they care for.
Despite being part of the pre-political lives of prominent politicians like Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner, family care still seems too complex and messy to grapple with. The prevailing conceptions about what makes life worthwhile in Westminster often exclude those who look after their close relatives.
Institutionalized Callousness
The government’s treatment of family carers is a prime example of institutionalized callousness. The miserly levels of benefits they receive, combined with the way the system seems to cast them as people prone to lie and cheat, are staggering.
The government's role in treating its citizens varies widely depending on the country and its system of governance.
In democratic nations, governments provide essential public services such as healthcare, 'essential public services' , and social welfare programs.
These services aim to promote the well-being and equality of all citizens.
According to a World Health Organization report, 90% of countries have implemented universal health coverage policies.
Additionally, many governments offer subsidies for low-income families to ensure access to basic necessities like food and shelter.
A recent headline highlights the cruelty of the system: ‘Mother of autistic boy left with £10,000 debt after breaching DWP rules by £1.92 a week.‘ The government’s plans to cut down millions of people’s entitlements will have knock-on effects for carers, depriving an estimated 150,000 people of either carer’s allowance or the carer element of universal credit.
A Call for Change
Davey asks a handful of questions about very different subjects towards the end of his book. What would happen if we totted up unpaid care hours and paid them the minimum wage? How would addressing families’ crisis of poor and unaffordable housing impact our society? The author seems to know that these are central questions for the next 10 years, which will change everything.
However, why do so many other politicians avert their eyes from this issue?
