The Carer General Election Live – Sector Leaders Share their Views on Labour’s Historic General Election Win
The ballots have been counted; it has been confirmed that Labour have won the general election with a convincing majority. Sir Keir Starmer, MP for Holborn and St Pancras will become the new British Prime Minister.
Sector leaders have been quick to share their views with The Carer:
1.41pm – The New Government Must Place Health at the Heart of its Agenda
In response to the Prime Minister’s inaugural speech outside Number 10, Dame Jennifer Dixon, CEO of the Health Foundation, said, ‘Congratulations to Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party on their election victory. While we welcome the Prime Minister’s focus on national renewal in his first speech on the steps of Downing Street, the scale of the task that the new government inherits cannot be underestimated. The NHS is facing one of the toughest moments in its history, and the challenge to get it back on its feet will be significant. Additionally, improvements in life expectancy have stalled, health inequalities are widening, and social care is in dire need of reform.
‘But there are also grounds for optimism. It is possible to rebuild the nation’s health by taking a long-term approach supported by investment, reform and a relentless focus on the wider social, economic and environmental factors that shape people’s health. And while the problems facing the NHS are severe, history shows that it can improve with the right level of investment and intelligent reform. Central to effective reform must be more widespread trial and use of technology.
‘The Prime Minister has pledged to make economic growth the defining mission of his government. Good health and a thriving economy are inextricably linked, yet poor health among working-age people is currently shrinking the labour force and holding back the economy. If it is to succeed in its mission, the new government must put health at the heart of its agenda from day one.’
1.04pm – Carers UK Responds
Helen Walker Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “We would like to congratulate Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in leading the new Government. We recognise that there will be a lot that the new Government want to tackle, and we’ve been encouraged by strong statements about building a National Care Service, supporting families who provide unpaid care, looking at the merits of paid Carer’s Leave and tackling the scandal of overpayments of Carer’s Allowance.
“The new Government has an opportunity to make a real and lasting difference for carers, by making them a priority. They are having to provide more care as a result of long NHS waiting lists, cuts and shortages in social care and an outdated and antiquated benefits system that leaves carers in debt to the Department for Work and Pensions. A staggering 600 carers a day give up work to care.
“Over a quarter (27%) of unpaid carers say that their mental health is bad or very bad, and nearly three quarters (73%) of these are continuing to provide care even though they feel at breaking point. We need the new Government to take swift and decisive action recognising the vital role unpaid carers play in supporting the UK’s overstretched and under-resourced health and care system by delivering a National Carers Strategy early in Government, personally led, by and endorsed, by the Prime Minister.
“The care unpaid carers provide is worth £162 billion per year to the economy, the equivalent of a second NHS, but many feel unsupported and forgotten. With 78% of carers worried about being able to provide care in the future, this needs urgent attention, otherwise the Treasury will be bearing greater costs in the longer term.
“The last National Carers Strategy was in 2008. Sixteen years on we need to see this kind of positive cross-Government action again. There is huge support for this. The All-Party Parliamentary Group of Carers’ consultation returned 5,000 responses around a National Carers Strategy – which is equivalent to a Government consultation response.
“We hope the new Government and the Prime Minister will seize this important opportunity to do more for unpaid carers, making their lives better and those they care for. We are counting on him to lead the development of a new National Carers Strategy, which delivers tangible progress and additional provision for carers, their families and those they care for.”
11.22am – Life For Disabled People Must Be Transformed
Sense Chief Executive, Richard Kramer, said: “The new UK government must show from day one that disabled people and the societal inequalities they face truly matter to them. That means urgently setting out a plan to fix social care, access to special education and welfare.
“Life for disabled people in this country must be transformed. Many disabled people are struggling to pay for essentials like food and energy. Social care, which so many depend on, is in crisis, the welfare system is in urgent need of reform and disabled children are being denied their right to quality education.
“Disabled people and the issues that matter to them most were worryingly absent during this election campaign, with almost half of disabled people telling us they felt left behind and forgotten by political parties. Sense wants the new government, and newly elected MPs of all parties, to listen to disabled people’s voices, understand that the problems they face have been exacerbated by the pandemic and cost of living crisis – and work with us to change disabled people’s lives for the better.”
11.12am – A Crucial Time
Sam Monaghan, Chief Executive of MHA said, “We extend our congratulations to Keir Starmer and the Labour Party and look forward to working with the new government to realise our ambitions for the social care sector.
“This is a crucial time for everyone working in social care, with 152,000 staff vacancies and half a million people waiting for a care assessment. There’s also a £2.9bn chasm between the funding that’s currently available from central government and the cost of delivering care. Within its manifesto, Labour’s National Care Service and fair pay deal were encouraging signs that the party recognises the challenges we face, as were its plans to tie workforce planning, skills and immigration together.
“Funding is at the heart of these issues, however, and the sector can’t afford to wait for change. Social care must be a key priority and we hope the new government can immediately begin to deliver on its commitment to long term funding reform. We will help and advise in any way we can to ensure that this happens.”
11.12 am – Commitment Needed
Karin Orman, Director of Practice and Innovation at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, said: “If the new Labour government is serious about addressing the crisis in health and social care, it must prioritise moving more occupational therapists into community settings, such as schools, GP surgeries, and housing teams. This will help people stay in work and be able to do the tasks and activities – or occupations – that they want and need to do to support their wellbeing.
“The Labour Party has said it will commit to “shifting resources to primary care and community services”. To do this, they need to prioritise access to occupational therapy in schools to help children and young people reach their potential; reduce pressure on emergency health services by making sure community rehabilitation teams include occupational therapists; and increase the number of occupational therapists in GP surgeries, which would help reduce both hospital admissions and the chances of people’s conditions getting worse.”
11.09am – Radical Plans Must Be Realised
Rebecca McGuirk, Head of Employment and Pensions at Trowers & Hamlins says: “Labour’s general election victory means that its radical plans for social care will be realised. Labour has pledged to introduce a New Deal for Social Care Workers. This will involve establishing a new Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) in the adult social care sector.
Under the FPA representatives of workers and employers will negotiate minimum standards for pay and terms and conditions. Sectorial collective bargaining is common in Europe but is a major change for UK employers. Labour has committed to consult widely on the design of the FPA and has said that it will assess to what extent FPAs could benefit from being rolled out to other sectors.”
10.30am – Once in a Generation Opportunity
Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of National Care Forum said: “We send our congratulations to Sir Keir Starmer and his ministerial team on their resounding victory in the General Election. We stand ready, as the not-for-profit care and support sector, to ensure that the new government is supported to focus on the immediate social care reform and investment that is needed and that voters have indicated they want to see.
“The new government now has a once in a generation opportunity to bring real change to the millions of people who depend on social care or struggle to access it, as well as their families, unpaid carers and wider communities. We urge the government to seize this opportunity and we reiterate our readiness to support them with the work that will be required to develop and deliver their manifesto commitments.
“Building a National Care Service and implementing a fair pay agreement for care workers, as set out in the Labour manifesto, are long-term propositions. NCF and our not-for-profit members, who run a diverse range of services, have the expertise to help the new administration shape and implement those plans in ways that empower adults of all ages, with different circumstances, to live their best lives.”
“A dedicated and funded workforce strategy will be essential to make sure care workers are better valued and can pursue the training and development they need for their career choices in care.”
“Long-term and sustainable care and support underpins the government’s plans for economic growth because social care enables choice and control, it supports local economies and employment opportunities, and it tackles inequalities.”
“Our ask and our offer to the new government: Seize the opportunity now to start to address the systemic issues at the heart of our social care system and transform it to ensure care workers are valued and paid properly, and people live good lives whatever their circumstances. We stand ready to work with you as the voice of the not-for-profit care and support sector and invite you to speak with our members and visit their services.”
10.09am – Ready to Work with New Government
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, Local Government Information Unit said: “As we witness a change of government, we should be proud of our democracy and grateful to the electoral administrators who make it all happen and to all the candidates, winners and losers, who put themselves up for election. We offer special congratulations to all the councillors and council leaders entering parliament.
We know that local government stands ready to work with the new government and we offer a reminder that national success has local foundations. Labour has set out clear missions for government but these can only be achieved in partnership with local democratic institutions.
We congratulate the new government and we urge it to set out a new relationship with councils across the country based on genuine collaboration and parity of esteem.”
10.08am – Value of Sector Must Be Recognised
Kathryn Smith, Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), said: “As the new government settles into office and begins to make good on their manifesto commitments, none are more important than securing a sustainable social care system, placing us on an equal footing with the NHS.”
“The scale and diversity of social care and support is immense with the value of our sector being underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic. This value must now be recognised in action. More people are requesting support, but fewer are getting the help they need. With demand increasing, local authorities do not have the money to meet it and staff numbers are not keeping pace.”
“We need to empower people with choice, control and independence to lead fulfilling lives. This is what we want for ourselves, our families and loved ones. But we know this does not happen everywhere.”
“The last Labour Prime Minister recognised that there was ‘no easy solution’ to social care’s problems. We hope that the incoming government will grasp the nettle and put social care reform at the heart of their ambition. The sector has worked hard to come together, with consensus emerging around ideas that will change lives for the better and build strong local communities.”
“A social care system fit for the 21st century is in the national interest and the formidable challenges facing the social care sector cannot be a justification for inaction. The cornerstone of future policy change ought to be co-producing solutions with people with lived experience, their families and carers, as well as care providers. Only an inclusive, collaborative approach will improve the efficacy and sustainability of any policy change.”
“I would like to congratulate Sir Keir on his appointment to the post of Prime Minister and look forward to working with him and his government on shaping Labour’s plans for a National Care Service. We look forward to the King’s Speech which represents a real opportunity for recognition and commitment to the change our sector needs.”
09.44am – Properly Funded
Janine Tregelles CBE, CEO of Revitalise said: At Revitalise, we extend our congratulations to the new Prime Minister. Our task for Sir Keir Starmer and his party is to take immediate action on adult social care reform. In particular, to ensure that vital respite is properly funded, and that respite funding receives specific protection so that it cannot be withdrawn from those who need it.
After years of austerity, the pandemic and the cost of living crisis the government has turned respite care into a luxury – our ongoing Give me a Break campaign highlighting that of the 4.7 million unpaid carers in England, only one in 129 receive respite funding. Disabled people and their carers have long since been abandoned by politicians and policy makers and are at breaking point. It is high time our new government puts social care at the top of the agenda.
09.36am – National Care Service
Carers Trust’s Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Dominic Carter, said: “Sir Keir Starmer’s campaign focused on change and, for the UK’s seven million unpaid carers, change can’t come soon enough. There are 1.5 million people caring for more than 50 hours a week and more than a quarter of carers have been forced into poverty. Meanwhile, one million children, some as young as five, are also having to look after family members. They’re paying a heavy price for a social care system which has fallen into crisis through lack of investment and long-term planning by successive governments. The Prime Minister and his team have to make this a priority.
“An overhaul of the grossly unfair Carer’s Allowance system would be a vital first step for the Starmer government. The benefit is the lowest of its kind and only those caring for more than 35 hours a week and earning less than £151 a week are able to claim it. That means it’s almost impossible for someone to combine work and caring if they claim Carer’s Allowance. If Labour is serious about growth, this broken system urgently needs to change and carers must be helped back into work.
“We welcome Labour’s long-term vision for a National Care Service and their big majority gives them the opportunity to be brave and ambitious with those plans. In the meantime, a carers strategy is urgently needed, helping to build a path to a National Care Service that works for carers and those they support. At Carers Trust, we and our network of local care organisations look forward to working with the new government to make sure this happens.”
08.45am – Deliver on Promises
Jo Henney, CEO, Nugent said: “It’s time for the new government to deliver on its promises with robust plans that have the potential to support our sector and our country now and long into the future.
“I’m encouraged by pledges such as the Young Futures programme – early years intervention through increased youth workers, mental health support workers, career advisers and youth hubs, to create a sense of place, community, opportunity, and support for future generations.
“Their promise to work with local government to support children in care through kinship, foster care and adoption is also incredibly important to the work we do at Nugent.
“In the short-term, Labour must implement an immediate, confident plan to address the inherited state of the sector and ensure a sustainable future for the most vulnerable members of our society.”
07.38am – A Fresh Start and a New Narrative
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England says: “With a new Government comes a fresh start, and the opportunity for new narrative around adult social care. Care England welcomes Sir Keir Starmer to his role as Prime Minister and wishes him every success in bringing about the sustainable future for our sector that we all so desperately want to see.
“Our adult social care system is a vital part of our national infrastructure. It supports people to confidently and independently to live the lives they choose and plays a key role in supporting our health system and wider economy. After the failure of successive governments to ‘fix social care once and for all’, the new administration must invest in and reform our sector as an urgent priority.
“There are practical measures the new Government must implement within its first 100 days to secure a sustainable future for our sector. Care England would urge them to lose no time and stands ready to continue our role as a critical friend to Government.”
06.16 am – Let’s Work Together to End Care Crisis
ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “We congratulate Labour on an historic and impressive victory and know that as the new Government begins today there is no better time to begin vital and long-overdue reform of adult social care.
“We have therefore written to Sir Keir Starmer and to Wes Streeting, who we anticipate will be the new health secretary, inviting them to engage with the social care sector to begin the challenge of transforming the sector and improving people’s lives.”
In his letter Mr Padgham says:
“I know there will be a million vital issues commanding your attention during these early days of your administration.
“I do, however, wish to make the case for social care to be placed at the top of those priorities and to invite you and your ministers to engage with the sector on urgent reform.
“After some 30 years of neglect, the care of older, vulnerable and disabled people in this country cannot wait any longer.
“The statistics are well known: 1.6m people unable to access the care they need, 152,000 vacancies in the social care sector and providers leaving the market at an alarming rate.
“Some 80% of us will need social care in our lifetime and to cope with ever-increasing demand, we will need a further 440,000 social care workers in the next 11 years.
“Social care providers in the independent sector stand ready and able to provide the Government with all the help, support, information and suggestions you might need to tackle the crisis.
“All we ask is the opportunity to meet with and engage with you to help begin the task.”
