Universal Basic Income is a Fantasy, Let's Focus on Real Support for Carers

I was talking to my neighbour, a lovely woman named Sarah, the other day. She looks after her mother full-time, and frankly, she’s exhausted. She gets a pittance in carer’s allowance, barely enough to cover the extra food her mum needs. She can’t work, can’t take a break. It made me think about all this talk of Universal Basic Income. It sounds nice on paper, but I suspect it’s mostly a distraction from the immediate, pressing needs of people like Sarah.

Instead of chasing UBI, which I doubt would ever be funded adequately or implemented fairly, we should be drastically increasing support for unpaid carers. This isn't just about financial aid, though that’s crucial. It’s about providing proper respite care, access to training for dealing with complex needs, and ensuring carers have their own health needs met.