Ed Davey demands change for Britain's carers

Britain’s army of unpaid support has been excluded from the political conversation. Family care was part of the pre-political lives of Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner; it was also there in David Cameron’s story. 

But what it demands of policymakers still seems awkward. In Britain, there are 7 million unpaid carers and the UK has no system of paid leave for family carers. So, why are 7 million British people being excluded? 

Care is the thread that runs through Ed Davey’s life. Aged only four, Ed lost his father. When his mother also became ill with cancer, Ed and his brothers nursed her at home until she died when Ed was just 15. 

That formative experience was one of the main inspirations in seeking election, and with it the opportunity to take action. 

Now, he and his wife care for their son John, who has severe physical and learning disabilities, as well as raising their younger daughter. 

Why I Care is both a deeply personal story, drawing on Ed Davey’s own experiences, and a book that reflects the stories of people everywhere to offer a vision of change. 

Shedding light on the often-invisible world of carers, he calls for society, our government and our institutions to recognise, support, and lift up the silent carers who form the backbone of our communities.