Care Providers Prepare for Major Protest at Labour Conference in Liverpool
Care providers across the UK are mobilising for a significant demonstration at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Monday, 29th September, as the Providers Unite campaign group prepares to deliver a powerful message about the crisis facing the social care sector.
The “Backbone of Care Walk” will commence at 11:30am and represents the second major protest organised by Providers Unite this year, highlighting the mounting pressures on care home and home care operators across the country.
The protest comes as Providers Unite has crystallised three key campaign demands following extensive consultation with care providers nationwide.
The group’s survey revealed the top three issues keeping providers awake at night:
- No Further Financial Burden- We urge that no additional direct costs are imposed on the care and support sector by the Chancellor in the 26th November Autumn Statement.
- Ring Fence Fair Pay Agreement- We call on the Treasury to ensure that 100% of the actual cost of implementing the Social Care Fair Pay Agreement must go directly to the people who employ care and support staff not swallowed up in middle layers or commissioning gaps.
- Put People at the Centre- We require a guarantee that people who access care and support, unpaid carers and those who we employ, will be at the heart of every reform from workforce pay to service redesign.
These concerns have shaped Providers Unite’s central campaign message, which emphasises the vital role of social care as “the backbone” of the NHS and community wellbeing.
The autumn Budget announced a 6.7% rise in the National Living Wage from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour, alongside increased employer national insurance contributions and a reduction in the wage threshold. While benefiting care workers, providers warn that “without immediate intervention, Britain faces the systematic collapse of community care services, putting at risk the well-being of over 1.2 million individuals”.
The campaign has gained significant momentum, with over 125 organisations writing to the Chancellor, Health Ministers and opposition spokespeople urging Rachel Reeves to reconsider measures in her recent Budget.
Strategic Political Engagement
Providers Unite is specifically targeting North West Labour MPs ahead of the Liverpool conference, recognising the region’s influence within the party.
Key figures being approached include:
- Lisa Nandy MP (Wigan) – described as “a senior Labour figure influential in policy with strong base in NW Labour”
- Andy Burnham – Greater Manchester Mayor who “can influence how services are organised and funded locally”
- Multiple Liverpool MPs including Maria Eagle, Kim Johnson, Dan Carden, Paula Barker, and Ian Byrne
- Representatives from Bolton, Blackpool, St Helens, and Warrington constituencies
The campaign is providing template letters and resources to help providers engage with their local representatives effectively.
The Providers Unite message emphasises that social care workers and providers deserve recognition for their essential contribution. The campaign states: “Your courage and perseverance in demanding that social care and support be given the recognition, respect, and money it desperately needs is inspiring. The work you do often in the background is vital to the NHS, and the wellbeing of so many people who rely on our support.”
The group has also produced a documentary ahead of the Labour conference, making “a clear call to action for MPs and the public to stand with Providers Unite”, described as both “a love letter to the care and support community, but also a line in the sand to our Prime Minister”.
