Care providers have stressed that the already over-stretched sector will be forced to the point of collapse by Labour’s National Insurance and wage hikes that will come into force from April.

The upcoming tax hikes will most affect small and medium sized businesses – which make up the lion’s share of the care sector.

Emma, a care provider from Essex says that she is protesting on behalf of her daughter, and is worried for her future:

“There’s no support for my daughter, she sits in the middle so she’s not severe but cannot live independently, and that’s the missing bit.”

She believes that funding for social care is already inaccessible.

“You have to fight and battle and battle to get funding and we just need the Government to value social care.”

Other protestors called for greater acknowledgement from the Government, claiming that social care is not “valued” anymore and is “always at the bottom of the pile”.

Julien Humphreys from the care providing recruitment company We are Care says that the increase in National Insurance alongside the Real Living Wage means that their fees will increase by 8.5%.

In a letter sent to the Chancellor, campaigners have stressed that they already face a deficit of 8.4 billion pounds, and that this move will bring indirect pressure on an already struggling NHS.

Ahead of the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Labour’s election pledge was to not increase National Insurance for “working people”.