Councillors call on MPs to back campaign to ‘let our carers keep every penny’ of £500 payment

Labour councillors in Wrexham have called on Conservative MPs to join the campaign to give care workers their £500 “thank you” payment in full. ​

On Friday, the First Minister of Wales expressed his disappointment after receiving a letter from the UK Treasury, suggesting they would not be waving tax or national insurance payments on the money, which has been given to carers in recognition of their contribution to the fight against the coronavirus.

Mark Drakeford said the Welsh Government would continue to make the case for them to receive “every penny” of the amount, with talks between the two sides still ongoing.

It was also announced the £500 would also be given to support staff, including cooks, cleaners and personal assistants.

Wrexham’s Labour group leader Cllr Dana Davies said: “The UK Tory Government has said it won’t make this payment tax-free.

“This means our hardworking social care workforce won’t get the whole £500 payment and it could also have an impact on those who receive Universal Credit.

“The Wrexham Labour Group wrote to both Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton and Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes last month to ask them to call on their UK Government to ensure these crucial workers weren’t taxed, but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

“We got a token response from Sarah Atherton saying she would ‘escalate’ it and have heard nothing since, and Mr Baynes didn’t respond at all.”

She continued: “This is an opportunity for the UK Government to do the right thing by some of the people who deserve it most.

“We want every penny of this £500 to go to those care workers who have done so much for so many during this crisis.”
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​Cllr Davies is asking the public to sign an online petition to back the campaign, which can be found at: www.welshlabour.wales/let-our-carers-keep-every-penny/.

The payment will be available to some 64,000 care home workers and domiciliary care workers throughout Wales.