‘It feels like we don’t exist’: The human cost of social care cuts
Angela Carson struggles to pull the damp laundry out of her washing machine. Her hands are so weak she can barely stop them from shaking.
The 65-year-old places the wet clothes onto her lap and slowly moves herself in a wheelchair through the small kitchen to another room, so they can dry.
Angela suffers from the lingering after-effects of a rare condition, Guillain-Barre syndrome, that attacks her nerves. It means she struggles to walk without two sticks by her side. Her husband Graham, who is in a motorised wheelchair, can only look on.
The 67-year-old was born with the muscle-wasting disease muscular dystrophy and now has limited movements – just in his hands – to operate the chair.
Angela struggles to walk without two sticks by her side
Angela suffers from the after-effects of Guillain-Barre syndrome, while Graham has muscular dystrophy
For the last seven years, the pair have relied on carers to come into their home several times a day to help with their everyday needs, including getting Graham in and out of bed using a hoist, personal hygiene, and preparing meals.
It was a week before Christmas when they received the devastating news: their local council was cancelling all of Angela’s care, and reducing Graham’s support. The decision was non-negotiable and came as a big shock to them both.
“They just said it was being stopped,” says Angela tearfully. “They said it was to promote independence. But I don’t see how, when I can’t do the things they say I can do.”
The council says Angela can prepare meals, walk, and shop – tasks she says are a struggle.
West Lothian Council took the decision to stop their care
‘Urgent action needed’
A few weeks earlier, their local authority, West Lothian Council, issued a downbeat but honest public statement about its finances, saying that the crisis facing councils was of a “magnitude never experienced” and that “urgent action” was needed.
Graham and Angela’s care is paid for by the council. It posted on Facebook about having an £8.1m overspend, fuelled in part by rising social care costs. It said it needs to make savings.
Not long after, social workers knocked on the door of Graham and Angela’s bungalow in Livingston to review their care package. The council said these reviews are done annually and are based on need, not cost.
A spokesperson for the West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership said: “This process is critical to monitor the progress and effectiveness of the care being provided to individuals and ensures that assessed and essential care needs are met.”
Angela and Graham on their wedding day
They added: “A consistent and fair approach is applied when reviewing or assessing an individual’s care, with any changes to a care plan being made on the basis of assessed need and not to address financial pressures. “
‘Social care is broken’
But Angela and Graham aren’t so sure.
“The social care system is broken”, says Graham.
“The council has overspent by millions of pounds. They’re cutting back and it’s hard to see it any other way.”
Graham Carson says the social care system ‘is broken’
Graham is right – councils are struggling to pay for social care. This financial pressure means the demand for care has outstripped the ability to provide it.
In England, 2.6 million people over 50 cannot currently access the care they need, according to the charity Age UK. Social care is devolved – the governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all spend more per capita on social care than the Westminster government spends in England.
The council just said her care ‘was being stopped’, Angela Carson says
In response to Graham and Angela’s situation, the Scottish government said it “understands the importance of social care support for those who need help living independently and we know the concerns changes to these services cause”.
It acknowledged that while it has overall control of social care, it is up to local authorities to ensure people have the right support.
A Sky News survey of homecare providers across England, Scotland and Wales indicates a worrying trend of cuts to these vital services in the last two years.
Of the care providers who responded, 83% told Sky News their local council had cut the number of care packages. And 81% of care providers in the survey said councils had cut the number of hours they’re willing to fund, suggesting carers spend less time in people’s homes.
‘We’ve really got to crack on’
The UK government has published plans to reform the social care system, aiming to establish a National Care Service designed to bring it closer to the National Health Service.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced the formation of an independent commission, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, to develop comprehensive proposals for organising and funding social care. Her full recommendations are expected in 2028.
When Sky News asked Mr Streeting about why the survey of care providers indicates such worrying cuts when plans for reforms are years away, the minister said in Labour’s first six months in power “we’ve delivered the biggest expansion of carers allowance since the 1970s”.
“We’ve made sure that we’re delivering real improvements through the disabled facilities grants, people’s homes,” he added.
He also pointed to additional funding from the chancellor and said the first findings of the Casey Commission will come next year.
When pressed on what action is being taken to help people without care in their homes right now, Mr Streeting said: “I know we’ve really got to crack on.”
In response to the survey, Councillor David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said councils are acutely aware of the challenges facing social care providers.
“As of March 2024, over 400,000 older and disabled people were waiting for care to start, their care needs assessed, or direct payments. Without immediate government funding, vital services face significant risks, impacting those who rely on care and their families,” he said.
Dr Jane Townson, chief executive of the Homecare Association, says around half of care providers are operating at a loss, with many withdrawing from council contracts due to inadequate funding.
“The consequences are stark,” she said.
“Unlike other businesses in the economy, homecare providers cannot simply raise their prices. This is because almost 80% of homecare services are purchased by councils and the NHS, who fix fee rates.
“Ethical homecare providers want to reward care workers fairly and provide safe, good quality care. The government is making it more difficult to do so.
“This means older and disabled people face having their care reduced or stopped.”
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Graham and Angela’s care is paid for by the council
Scotland’s National Care Service plan scrapped
Plans for a National Care Service in Scotland were well under way until last Thursday, when the government there said it would be scrapped.
More than £30m has already been spent on the policy over the last three years. It was one of the boldest public service reforms of the SNP’s 17 years in power.
Following the announcement, Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane accused the government of being a “shower of charlatans”. He wrote on social media: “Let’s call this what it is: £30million of taxpayers’ money flushed down the drain by a government with a proven track record of failure.”
The reality for Angela is that no one is coming to care for her right now. She has to do everything herself.
“It is terrible. I go to bed and that’s all I can think about. I feel I don’t exist – that if I wasn’t here anymore it wouldn’t matter.”
The exclusive data in this article was collected via an online survey between 14-17 January sent to domiciliary care providers that are members of the Homecare Association, Scottish Care and Care Forum Wales. The survey went out to 2,650 home care providers in England, Scotland and Wales. There were 336 responses.
Have you been affected by cuts to social care? We’d like to hear from you. Email nick.martin@sky.uk
An MP has told Sky News she was attacked online by the Tate brothers after she participated in a debate in the House of Commons about violence against women.
The controversial duo, Andrew and Tristan Tate, are facing charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK – all of which they deny.
But they are still very active online, and according to Sorcha Eastwood, the MP for Lagan Valley, are targeting her.
In a document seen by Sky News, Tristan Tate has highlighted one of the MP’s tweets and writes in private correspondence: “MP, nice target, can we sue her?”
Sorcha Eastwood says at first she thought the replies were from parody accounts and not the Tate brothers.
Her original tweet was about Elon Musk, not the Tate brothers. The MP said Musk’s tweets should be looked at through a counter-extremism lens.
“I was really concerned, I was concerned because to me that is a direct attack for want of a better phrase on me serving my constituents.
“I couldn’t believe that they decided to pick this random Northern Irish MP. The fact that it wasn’t even about them. This is something I didn’t go looking for.
“I think from my perspective, it’s a very, very sinister attempt to shut down important voices in public life, political discourse.”
It was only when she started noticing an uptick in abuse from other accounts she realised she had encountered some of the brothers’ followers.
“I had rape threats. I had death threats. I had people saying I should be hung from a lamppost. I had people saying I should be chopped into liver. I also had people then who were like we’ll waste 15 minutes raping Sorcha Eastwood.”
A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against Sorcha Eastwood
A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against her.
They said: “Ms Eastwood has a distorted view regarding social media if she believes one is required to ‘invite or ask’ people to interact.
“Tristan Tate is entitled to his view in relation to her tweet regarding Elon Musk.”
The self-styled “misogynist influencer” Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have both been charged with human trafficking, face allegations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering in Romania.
There is also a European arrest warrant for them as they are facing separate, unrelated charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK. They deny all charges.
Ms Eastwood now worries for others who don’t have a platform like her and who may not feel like they can speak out.
“If this is what has happened to me I have absolutely no doubt that this has happened to others where they have been attempted to be silenced.”
Keir Starmer has previously commented on the Tate brothers’ case in the Commons saying it is “a live issue”, but adding that “the principle is absolutely clear” in relation to whether the brothers should face justice.
Sorcha Eastwood says she wants to see the government do much more to protect against abuse online.
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Tate brothers deny wrongdoing
“I think ultimately the government has taken the wrong course on this. They need to step up.
“This should be an issue of national security as far as the radicalisation of young people online. It should be an issue in terms of the levels of misinformation, disinformation and the lack of trust that is had in our politics right across the UK and Europe.
“I want the government to help me, help every other person to crack down on this and get serious about it. And the only way they’ll be able to do that, is by hitting these tech companies in the only language which they understand, which is money and via robust legislation.”
A government spokesperson said: “Violence against women and girls is a scourge on our society which is why we have set out an unprecedented mission to halve these crimes within a decade.
“Tackling illegal abuse both online and offline is central to supporting victims and preventing harm in our communities and we will not hesitate to strengthen laws to deliver this mission.
“Last month, parts of the Online Safety Act came into force meaning companies must take action to protect users from illegal material including extreme sexual violence.
“Further protections from this summer will require platforms to protect children from harmful, misogynistic, and violent content.”
UK
‘It’s just nasty’: Birmingham residents ‘overwhelmed’ by foul stench and massive rats as bins strike rumbles on
In parts of Birmingham, the stench is overwhelming – enough to make you heave.
At a block of flats in Highgate, in Birmingham city centre, we find a mountain of bin liners full of rubbish spewing out of the cavernous bin store, which is normally locked.
Mickel comes out to speak to us, while all around bin liners lie open, with the contents for all to see, including used nappies and rotting food.
Mickel says they’ve had ‘foxes and rats, literally the size of cats’
Outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate, bin liners lie open, spewing out rubbish
We both find it hard to keep talking amid the awful smell.
“We’ve had foxes and rats, literally the size of cats, flies, it’s just nasty, something needs to be done,” he says.
Chris says the situation is ‘overwhelming’ as she’s ‘terrified of rats’
Around the corner, I meet Chris, in her dressing gown, popping the bins into her bin store beneath her flat before work.
She unlocks it, and although it isn’t bursting out on to the street yet, it is getting full.
She says the situation is “overwhelming” as she’s “terrified of rats”. But, even so, she has sympathy for the striking bin workers.
“It’s not an easy job; they must have a heart of gold to do that job,” she says.
“Pay them whatever they need, they deserve it.”
Striking bin workers at Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre
There’s an awful smell coming from a mountain of bin liners outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate
At Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre, Brigette has pulled up alongside picketing workers. The back seat of her car is full of rubbish.
She apologises for the terrible waft, mixed with air freshener.
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“It’s very pungent, isn’t it? Not nice,” she admits.
“It’s unfortunate, I have some sympathies for all the parties, but, equally, we have a duty of care to stay clean and tidy.”
She says she has her rubbish and that of her elderly aunt and plans to make weekly trips to the tip until a resolution in this pay dispute between the council and the Unite union is found.
UK
‘US is our closest ally’, Jonathan Reynolds says in reaction to Trump tariffs – but ‘nothing off the table’
The US is “our closest ally” but “nothing is off the table” in response to Donald Trump’s 10% tariffs on imports from the UK, the business secretary has said.
In a statement following the US president’s nearly hour-long address to the world, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We will always act in the best interests of UK businesses and consumers.
“That’s why, throughout the last few weeks, the government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship.”
Follow the latest following Trump’s tariffs announcement
Mr Reynolds reiterated the statements from the prime minister and his cabinet over the past few days, saying the US is “our closest ally”, and the government’s approach is to “remain calm and committed to doing this deal, which we hope will mitigate the impact of what has been announced today”.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says “nothing is off the table” following the tariffs announcement. Pic: PA
But he continued: “We have a range of tools at our disposal, and we will not hesitate to act. We will continue to engage with UK businesses, including on their assessment of the impact of any further steps we take.
“Nobody wants a trade war, and our intention remains to secure a deal. But nothing is off the table, and the government will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest.”
‘Get back round the negotiating table’, say Tories
The Conservative Party’s shadow business and trade secretary described the US president’s announcement as “disappointing news which will worry working families across the country”.
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Sky’s Ed Conway examines how economies across the world are impacted by tariffs
Andrew Griffith hit out at the government for having “failed to negotiate with President Trump’s team for too many months after the election, failed to keep our experienced top trade negotiator, and failed to get a deal to avoid the imposition of these tariffs by our closest trading partner”.
“The chancellor’s emergency budget of just a week ago with its inadequate headroom is now at risk, casting uncertainty about more taxes or spending cuts,” he continued. “Sadly, it is British businesses and workers who will pay the price for Labour’s failure.”
He called on ministers to “swallow their pride” and “get back round the negotiating table to agree a fair deal to protect jobs and consumers in both the UK and the US alike”.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has reacted furiously to Mr Trump’s announcement of a “destructive trade war”, and called on the government to stand up against “Trump’s attempts to divide and rule”.
“The prime minister should bring our Commonwealth and European partners together in a coalition of the willing against Trump’s tariffs, using retaliatory tariffs where necessary and signing new trade deals with each other where possible.”
Speaking on Wednesday evening at a White House event entitled ‘Make America Wealthy Again’, the US president unleashed sweeping tariffs across the globe.
Mr Trump held up a chart detailing the worst offenders – which also showed the new tariffs the US would be imposing.
The UK’s rate of 10% was perhaps a shot across the bow over the 20% VAT rate, though the president’s suggested a 10% tariff imbalance between the two nations. Nonetheless, tariffs of 10% could directly reduce UK GDP by between 0.01% and 0.06%, according to Capital Economics.
A 25% duty on all car imports from around the world is also being imposed from midnight in the US – 5am on Thursday, UK time.
Read more:
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The UK government had been hoping to negotiate an economic deal with the US in a bid to avoid the tariffs, but to no avail. The government says negotiations will continue.
The Confederation of British Industry said “negotiating stronger trading relationships with all like-minded partners will be foundational to any success”.
The business secretary is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons on Thursday, and we are also expecting to hear from the prime minister.
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