Haringey Liberal Democrats, who passed the country’s first council motion calling for care experience to be made a protected characteristic, have expressed disappointment that the government refused the recommendation of the Independent Review into Children’s Social Care which would have done just that. This would have given care leavers the same protection in law currently given to characteristics such as age, race or maternity.

Haringey became the first council to join the Show Us You Care Too campaign and to call for care experience to become a protected characteristic last March, thanks to a unanimously adopted motion proposed by Liberal Democrat then-councillor Tammy Palmer, who grew up in care. Cllr Palmer stood down from the council in 2022.

Councillor Marsha Isilar-Gosling (LD-Highgate), Haringey Lib Dem Spokesperson for Children’s Services, said:
“It is very disappointing that the government has rejected the independent recommendation to make care experience a protected characteristic. I am proud that Haringey was the first council to call for this change, and I hope the government will reconsider in future.”