Farnham and Bordon's Conservative MP clashes with Lib Dems over support for carers

A political row has erupted after local Liberal Democrats accused Farnham and Bordon’s Tory MP Greg Stafford of not supporting proposals to assist unpaid carers.

This week, Khalil Yousuf, the Lib-Dem spokesperson for the constituency, criticised Mr Stafford for not backing a parliamentary motion aimed at increasing support for carers.

Mr Stafford responded by accusing Mr Yousuf and his party of “just another example of political gamesmanship”.

The motion, tabled as part of the Liberal Democrats’ first Opposition Day of this Parliament, called for an increase in Carers Allowance, raising the threshold that carers could earn before losing this allowance, and halting prosecutions of carers for receiving overpayments.

Mr Yousuf said: “I’m deeply disappointed to see that the Labour Government opposed these motions. What was even more disappointing was to see our local MP fail to support motions in Parliament that would see more support for health and care services in our community. 

“The state of local healthcare is dire and the carers’ overpayment scandal is a national disgrace. Families and pensioners across Farnham and Bordon are in desperate need of a fair deal.”

He said the Liberal Democrats proposed these measures “to help rescue GPs, NHS dentists, community pharmacists, and unpaid carers”.

He added that he would “keep putting pressure on Greg Stafford to do the right thing” as “health and social care must be their top priority.”

In response, Mr. Stafford denied these claims, asserting that he had supported carers throughout his political career.

He said: “I would not have put myself forward for election to the Health and Social Care Committee if I was not dedicated to pressurising the Government to secure better support for carers and those cared for.”

The Lib Dem statement “needlessly attacks the Conservative government” and “conveniently ignores the injection of financial support to carers and the wider care sector,” he said.

“As the elected representative for Farnham and Bordon, I won’t be distracted by this shameless use of a cut-and-paste press release,” he added.

Mr Stafford stated that “unlike the local Liberal Democrats,” he was actively engaging with issues in Farnham and Bordon “rather than simply acting as a vassal to the party HQ’s press office.”