Sir Ed Davey Shares Personal Story of Caring in Powerful New Podcast Episode

The Let’s Take Care Podcast released today (1st Dec) is a compelling new episode featuring Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, who speaks candidly about his personal experiences caring for family members with complex needs — and the profound impact this has had on his life.

Sir Ed also shares memories from his own childhood, his family’s journey with illness and disability and caring for his disabled son John, describing caring as an honour and act of love and joy that has shaped his life, both personal and political.

In the episode, Sir Ed also discusses the challenges and emotional realities facing parents of disabled children and the pressure that long-term caring places on families. His reflections echo what thousands of parents and carers across the UK experience but rarely talk about openly.

Here's an excerpt:

“I think it's a huge load and you're absolutely right to identify it. I'm conscious also my wife Emily takes a lot of the load from me in terms of the emotional juggling, I think that's the really difficult bit. We’re lucky John sleeps quite well. So, he'll go to sleep at eight, nine o'clock and won't wake till six.

"I know some parent carers have to look after the kids during the night and I take my hat off to them, I’m in awe of them because we get a good night's sleep. However, you're always thinking about your child, you're also thinking about ‘’What else can I do?’ You’re often in a fight with the local authority,  pushing to get something for them and so that load is something that I think parent carers of disabled children carry that other parents don't.”

The conversation forms part of the podcast’s broader mission to shine a light on carers’ everyday realities, acknowledging the resilience, exhaustion, love and advocacy that define caregiving. By sharing recognisable stories and challenges, the series aims to make carers feel seen and create greater public understanding of the pressures they face.

This episode also touches on the systemic gaps that leave many carers unsupported — from mental load and burnout to the lack of services that meet family needs. Sir Ed emphasizes that caring responsibilities shape every aspect of a family’s life, often leaving parents struggling to keep their heads above water.

“I just think it if we recognise carers properly, strategically and systematically and built up from carers rather than building down (carers are often the last thing people consider) they should be the first thing people consider….I think it would dramatically change things. I mean, in such a powerful way, well, actually, it would help the health service, it will help local authorities if they just recognise carers and it's a madness that they don't, frankly.”

The episode is available now across all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Audible and Apple.

Listeners can expect an honest, empathetic and deeply human discussion that gives voice to the hidden work of caregiving — and invites a national conversation about how we can better support the families who do so much, often with so little help.

Said Jane Holmes, CEO of Building for the Future:

“We are incredibly grateful to Sir Ed for speaking so openly about his family’s experience of caring. His honesty reflects what so many parents in our community live through every day — the exhaustion, the resilience, the relentless advocacy, and the love that holds everything together.”

“Too often, carers feel invisible. They navigate complex systems, fight for support, and carry enormous emotional and practical responsibilities, usually without recognition. By sharing conversations like this, we hope to shine a light on their reality and remind every parent and carer that they are not alone.”

“Our hope is that this episode encourages a wider national conversation about what families need, what they deserve, and how we can work together to create genuine, lasting change.”