Nearly one in three Brits are carers - Government should give them support to take time off, says Liberal Democrats Leader

New research by Liberal Democrats/Savanta has shown that 30 per cent of British adults self-identify as someone who has unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member or friend due to illness - almost 1 in 3 UK adults.

The research surveyed over 2,000 UK adults and prompted Liberal Democrats Leader Ed Davey to call on the Government to give unpaid carers support to take time off.

In further research commissioned for Carers Week (7 -11 June), a Carers UK survey revealed 72 per cent of unpaid carers have not been able to have a break since the Coronavirus pandemic began.

"Unpaid carers have taken on dramatically increased caring responsibilities during the pandemic. Many carers haven't been able to take a single break since the pandemic started. Most are simply exhausted," said Leader of the Liberal Democrtas Ed Davey MP.

"This pandemic has shown that we are a nation of carers. But people looking after their loved ones are still too often forgotten and ignored by people in power.

"The government must finally recognise the incredible contribution that unpaid carers make and give them the support they deserve. It must give local councils the emergency funding they need to give carers a break.

"Liberal Democrats are standing up for carers and working to build a more caring society as we emerge from this pandemic."

The carers UK question was: Do you have any caring responsibilities for another person? A carer is someone with any caring responsibilities who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. This does NOT include parenting or guardian responsibilities for children.

Total - 2093 - 100%

Yes - someone at home - 423 - 20%

Yes - someone outside my home - 226 - 11%

No - 1467 - 70%

Total Sum: Yes - 626 - 30%