Tell us about your caring experiences.

My wife died last year after a five year illness.  As her carer, I was unable to draw the benefits I was entitled to because as a pensioner I was subject to the unjust overlapping benefits rule. Caring was also an isolating experience. For example the only time I could get away from home was for a few hours, when my wife was at her weekly visit to the day centre. I had been able to take a one week holiday but last year I had to abandon my holiday because no suitable accommodation could be found for my wife, as the respite home we used earlier had closed.

Tell us why you decided to stand for election as a champion for carers?

Since my wife died I have an empty life, a clean slate, and I have to rebuild my life again after five years shut off from the world as a 24/7 carer. I have been active in politics and trades unions all my life so it’s something I know about. My activities in public life were interrupted by my wife’s illness and I had intended to retire from public life but I now believe carers or ex-carers should take an active part in politics as Carer Representatives.

Tell us about your idea for independent carer representatives

There are probably more carers than the combined membership of the major political parties who run the country. If we stand as candidates in local elections the other parties will sit up and take notice. Election results are the stuff of life to them, I know because I've been there. As I see it this is the only way we are going to stop the relentless pressure by Councils to reduce respite care facilities which are of vital interest to carers.

Won’t carers have too many differing or opposing political views to form a political party?

This is not a left / right political issue. Carers are represented across the whole spectrum of every section of society - class, race, colour ,creed, gender and sexual orientation. There is no reason at all why Independent Carer Candidates should not have any political leaning they like, provided their central aim is to improve the lot of carers, including the removal of the overlapping benefit rule which causes so much controversy and hardship. For my part I would like carers to be taken out of the benefit system, and given a wage like people who are paid to foster children.

What do you see as the problems facing carers in the ward where you are standing for election? 

I’m a former member of the Labour party but I have decided to stand in a Labour held ward, because under Labour services for carers and other social and health services are being attacked, privatised and run down. Social Services in Lancashire has been split up and merged with other services like libraries and museums under the umbrella of Adult Community Services. Respite care home places for the elderly are declining and constantly under threat, which of course impacts on the carer. Now even local charities who seek to assist sick people and their carers are coming under threat.

If you’d like to know more you can email Norman : normangardner28-at-hotmail.com