Your Voice, Your Vote: Unpaid carers calling for change

We put these concerns to the political parties with candidates standing in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency and asked them to address the issues raised.

The Conservative Party says since 2010 it has increased the carer’s allowance by £1,500, and those who work are now entitled to five days of unpaid leave. While there were no specifics for the future, it is promising “bold action”.

The Green Party says it would introduce free personal care which would provide some respite for unpaid carers.

Labour says it would reform the carer’s allowance making it fairer and simpler.

The Liberal Democrats says it would increase the allowance by more than £1,000 a year, as well as expand the numbers entitled to it. It also says it would fund more paid carer’s leave.

Reform UK did not provide specifics but says it would create a national social care plan, merging council and NHS funding to make things simpler.