What we do in Parliament

 

Our vision

Carers UK’s vision is to create a society that requires carers to be treated equally in all aspects of their lives. Sadly, that isn’t currently the case. 

We are determined to deliver our vision, where carers are recognised, valued and supported. 

That’s why we work hard to actively promote the interests of carers, and their voices, to Government and politicians from across Parliament. 

 

All Party Parliamentary Group on Carers 

Carers UK provides the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Carers.

The group’s aim is to ensure that the millions of people in the UK, who provide unpaid care for ill, older or disabled loved ones, get the recognition and support they need.  

The Group brings together Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, alongside policy and practice experts, to raise awareness, to share knowledge, and improve understanding of the needs of unpaid carers in parliament. 

The APPG works on a cross-party basis and provides a forum for Parliamentarians and expert stakeholders to discuss what can be done across the NHS, social care, employment policy, and the social security system to improve the lives of carers. 

Officers (elected December 2024): 

• Chair: Anna Dixon MP (Labour)
• Co-Chair: Baroness Pitkeathley (Labour)
• Officer: Wendy Chamberlain MP (Liberal Democrat)
• Officer: Caroline Dinenage MP (Conservative)

Members:

• Abtisam Mohamed MP (Labour)
• Alex McIntyre MP (Labour)
• Alex Sobel MP (Labour/Co-operative)
• Alison Bennett MP (Liberal Democrat)
• Alison Hume MP (Labour)
• Andrew Rosindell MP (Conservative)
• Chris Bloore MP (Labour)
• Claire Young MP (Liberal Democrat)
• Clive Lewis MP (Labour)
• Daisy Cooper MP (Liberal Democrat)
• Daniel Francis MP (Labour)
• Dave Robertson MP (Labour)
• Douglas McAllister MP (Labour)
• Ellie Chowns MP (Green Party)
• Gill Furniss MP (Labour)
• Gill German MP (Labour)
• Ian Byrne MP (Independent)
• James Naish MP (Labour)
• Jim Dickson MP (Labour)
• Joe Robertson MP (Conservative)
• John Glen MP (Conservative)
• John McDonnell MP (Independent)
• Josh Fenton-Glynn MP (Labour)
• Julie Minns MP (Labour)
• Kevin Bonavia MP (Labour)
• Manuela Perteghella MP (Liberal Democrat)
• Neil Duncan-Jordan MP (Labour)
• Peter Prinsley MP (Labour)
• Rachael Maskell MP (Labour/Co-operative)
• Robin Swann MP (Ulster Unionist Party)
• Sarah Hall MP (Labour/Co-operative)
• Sharon Hodgson MP (Labour)
• Siân Berry MP (Green Party)
• Steve Race MP (Labour)
• Vikki Slade MP (Liberal Democrat)
• Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat)
• Baroness Bennett (Green Party)
• Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (Crossbench)
• Baroness Goudie (Labour)
• Baroness Hollins (Crossbench)
• Baroness Hooper (Conservative)
• Baroness Keeley (Labour)
• Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour)
• Baroness Meacher (Crossbench)
• Baroness Morgan of Drefelin (Labour)
• Baroness Neville-Jones (Conservative)
• Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour)
• Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat)
• Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe (Labour)
• Baroness Watkins of Tavistock (Crossbench)
• Lord Dobbs (Conservative)
• Lord Dubs (Labour)
• Lord Weir (DUP)
• Lord Kinnock (Labour)
• Lord Turnberg (Labour)
• Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative)
• Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat)

Parliamentary briefings 

If you are a politician who wants to help raise the profile of issues affecting unpaid carers, we can support you with detailed and expert policy briefings on upcoming debates. We can also work with you to proactively raise these issues. Please find our previous briefings here. 

General Election 2024: our manifesto for carers 

The General Election took place in July 2024, and ahead of polling day, Carers UK called on all political parties, and all Parliamentary Candidates, to commit to improving the lives of the UK’s millions of unpaid carers over the next five years. We published our ‘manifesto for carers’ setting out the top priorities unpaid carers want to see delivered by the next Government.

Contact us 

Please contact us if you would like to find out more about our public affairs work, or how we can support you to better represent the needs of unpaid carers in your constituency.  

 

In 2024, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Carers published a new report calling for a new and ambitious National Carers Strategy.

Carers UK, who provide the secretariat for the group, have published the report on its behalf.

For more information, please contact policy@carersuk.org.