Hello everyone,
Ashley Dalton is the MP for West Lancashire. She was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention in 2025. She announced in January this year that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time. Her ex-husband died of kidney cancer.
One of Minister Dalton’s key tasks is the delivery of the National Cancer Plan.
In the past week she has attended a Backbench Business debate on brain tumours, she has met with three women bereaved by brain tumours, plus Brain Tumour Research, and she has joined a packed meeting of the APPG on Brain Tumours.
Brain tumours are now clearly a form of cancer she will have at the front of her mind as the Cancer Plan comes together.
So, to recap on what has been a big campaigning week…
Last Thursday at the House of Commons, there was a Backbench Business debate focusing on research and treatment of brain tumours.
Just six weeks before the second anniversary of the death of her sister, Margaret, the session featured a heartfelt contribution from Dame Siobhain McDonagh (above left). Dame McDonagh had called for the debate alongside Charlie Maynard MP (above centre), whose sister, Georgina, is also living under the shadow of a glioblastoma diagnosis.
We were pleased to provide briefing documents for attending MPs, for the Conservative Party response delivered by Dr Luke Evans, and for Minister Dalton (above right).
In her response to the contributions, during an emotional hour, Minister Dalton said: “For those affected by this devastating disease, every discovery, every treatment and every moment matters.
"We recognise that more needs to be done to stimulate high-quality, high-impact research into brain tumours… We completely understand the strength of feeling on this issue… That is why we are committed to making a real difference for patients with brain cancer. We will leave no stone unturned until they get the first-class care that they deserve.”
You can read a full written record of last week’s debate here.
Last month, we brought you news of the Prime Minister’s pledge of support for Laura Kurtul, a bereaved mother who has fundraised and campaigned tirelessly for our cause since losing her only child, aged just six, to the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
Fast forward to Tuesday this week when Laura met with Minister Dalton, who acknowledged that not enough is being done and vowed to unlock funding for the vital research desperately needed to change outcomes for those facing the devastation of a brain tumour diagnosis.
The milestone meeting was the result of Laura making contact with her South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, who was so affected by her story that he raised it during Prime Minister’s Questions and secured the promise of a meeting from Sir Keir Starmer.
Laura’s son Taylan died of a medulloblastoma in February 2024, just nine months after diagnosis. She said: “Sharing my story with the Health Minister was incredibly emotional but we came out feeling heard and hopeful that we will create change together. Ashley acknowledged how awful this situation is. She’s very keen to work with us and to ensure Government funding for this type of research is unlocked. That was what we were desperate to hear and what will motivate us to keep going.”
The emotional and intimate meeting ended with a pledge from the Minister to meet again in the autumn to hold further discussions.
Laura was joined by fellow campaigner Louise Fox, who lost her 13-year-old son George to a glioblastoma in April 2022, as well as our CEO Dan Knowles, Jess Mills, daughter of the late Tessa Jowell and founder of The Tessa Jowell Foundation, and Mr Costa. Hugh was also there representing the APPG on Brain Tumours’ secretariat.
“Brain Tumour Research is grateful to Laura and Louise for their continued support and campaigning efforts. Together they have raised more than £170,000 to help fund vital research and we know they will remain steadfast in their fight,” said Dan.
“We, as an organisation, will continue to work with the Minister and our supporters, as well as other stakeholders including The Tessa Jowell Foundation, to ensure that any blockages are identified and cleared so that we can increase investment into brain tumours in the UK. Furthermore, we look forward to seeing greater priorities for brain tumours in the National Cancer Plan to be published later this year.”
Following this meeting we all hot-footed it around the corridors of Portcullis House in Westminster to arrive, breathless, for the beginning of the APPG on Brain Tumours, which took place in the Macmillan Room. MPs who joined the minister for this packed meeting were:
- Dame Siobhain McDonagh (Chair)
- Charlie Maynard
- John Slinger
- Scott Arthur
- David Simmonds
- John McDonnell
- Sarah Owen
- Graham Stuart
The room was also filled with passionate campaigners keen to get their point across during the one-hour meeting because, although not unprecedented for a Minister to attend a meeting of an APPG, it is unusual.
Dan opened the meeting speaking passionately about what Brain Tumour Research wants to see in the upcoming Cancer Plan: a clear commitment to increased, sustained funding for research into brain tumours, more support for early-career researchers, better infrastructure, and more support and incentives for clinical trials. He emphasised why urgent action is needed – brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, yet research remains underfunded.
Scott Arthur MP spoke about his Rare Cancers Bill, which aims to tackle the inequalities rare cancer patients face by:
- Appointing a named lead for rare cancers
- Reviewing orphan drug regulations
- Enhancing clinical trial access
Minister Dalton listened, took notes, and asked and answered questions.
With her experience of living with metastatic breast cancer, Minister Dalton brought empathy and energy to the room of parliamentarians and campaigners and was able to give clarity to campaigners focused on specific tumour types, including low-grade tumours, that all brain tumours will be included in the Cancer Plan.
She was clear: there is no cap on brain tumour research funding – the challenge is unblocking the barriers that prevent funds from being used effectively.
She pledged to:
- Review the panels that oversee research proposals
- Improve public awareness around clinical trials
- Work with charities to promote trial participation
She noted there are currently 25 active trials in the UK, but recruitment remains a key issue. “We need you to work with us to get the word out,” she said to charities.
The Minister closed with a commitment to get the right people in the room to unlock progress on clinical trials.
At the end of a charged hour we, as the secretariat, are left with a number of actions to take forward and these will be prioritised as we strive to maintain the momentum which the minister has delivered this past week. The full meeting minutes will be available on our website soon.
Finally, the APPG is happy to welcome a new member, Gregor Poynton the MP for Livingston.
In other Westminster news, there have been answers from the Minister to two questions regarding Whole Genome Sequencing. Great friend of the APPG John McDonnell received an answer to this question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed abolition of NHS England on (a) Genomics England and (b) the provision of whole genome sequencing to patients with rare cancers by the NHS Genomics Medicine Service.
You can read the response here.
Whilst Lib Dem MP Sarah Gibson also asked this genomics question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the (a) development and (b) implementation of (i) whole genome sequencing and (ii) other innovative treatments for brain tumours.
Read the response here.
So, as we come to the end of a significant week, there is plenty to ponder and plenty to take forward. Brain tumours have their rightful place on the ministerial agenda and that now needs to deliver in real terms – funding for research, a much-improved take up of trials, with more available, and new therapeutics quickly available to patients in the UK.
Working together we can make all of this happen. Working with Government will make it happen faster.
See you next Friday – wishing you all a peaceful time until then.
Karen, Hugh and Thomas
