ELECTION 2021: Call for more carers support
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Carers must be better recognised in the next Scottish Parliament with guaranteed respite support and a renewed 2016 Carer's Act to learn the lessons of the pandemic, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have said.
According to the latest government figures, over a third of carers across the four local authority areas of the north-east region are unpaid.
That is a total of 4026 not receiving their entitled allowance. For every carer, Liberal Democrats are campaigning for a UK-wide uplift of the Carer’s Allowance of £1000-a-year.
Rosemary Bruce, the Scottish Liberal Democrat's top candidate for the north-east, said: “People who care for others – whether paid or unpaid, young or old – do a remarkable job and deserve our support.”
Other proposals in the Scottish Liberal Democrat manifesto to transform support for carers include a new right to flexible working hours, new carer benefits including free leisure centre access and financial assistance to support adjustment and training when caring roles end.
Mrs Bruce, who is also the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Aberdeenshire West, said: “People who care for others – whether paid or unpaid, young or old – do a remarkable job and deserve our support.
“With transformative plans to guarantee respite and increase financial support, Scottish Liberal Democrats will lead the way to a more caring society as we emerge from this pandemic.
"We should be approaching caring with a fresh sense of urgency."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “Too often I hear stories of carers relying on foodbanks to feed themselves and the people they care for.
"Just imagine how much harder it has been with the brutal combination of lockdowns, shielding and paired back support services.
"It doesn't have to stay this way. With a Scottish Government ready to focus all its energy on putting recovery first, there is a real opportunity for change."
