To Every Politician Past and Present Who Has Chosen to Ignore the Plight of Unpaid Careers

In this episode of The Letterbox Podcast, Mary writes a powerful open letter to politicians past and present who she believes have ignored the plight of unpaid carers in the UK. Mary shares her lived experience as the full-time carer for her son Daniel, who suffered severe brain damage in infancy following complications from a childhood cancer diagnosis. For over 44 years, she has provided round-the-clock care — totalling around 138 hours every week — alongside the emotional, physical, and financial pressures that come with lifelong caregiving. She speaks candidly about Carer’s Allowance, currently £86.45 per week, which equates to approximately 63p an hour for her care, and the strict earnings threshold that penalises carers who try to supplement their income. Mary also highlights the impact of policy changes such as carers losing their allowance upon reaching state pension age, despite continuing their caring responsibilities. This episode explores the reality of unpaid carers in the UK, the hidden labour that supports families and the wider health and social care system, and the ongoing debate around welfare support, disability care, and government policy. A deeply personal letter that raises urgent questions about how society values care, disability support, and the millions of unpaid carers who quietly hold everything together. You can follow Mary’s campaign on her instagram @mcgo\_2022. The link to her petition is here https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/765364?utm\source=ig&utm\medium=social&utm\content=link\in\bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaASl97VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadhYdrffFM5a8yeF2gmfJRu4TOoah8pAQWJqEzl7swHT1GprGMtyHo8ZLfmfg\aem\pCh-sAT1DwQukPiBY\Nlrw&utm\id=97760\v0\s00\e0\_tv3