Dame Siobhain speaks and questions are asked

Hugh Adams 4 min read


Hello everyone,

In Committee Room 17 of the House of Commons yesterday evening, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT) on Brain Tumours held its Annual General meeting (AGM).

The meeting needed 8 Parliamentarians to be quorate – meaning business was able to take place. A highly unusual voting pattern took place at the same time as the meeting started, meaning MPs were required to vote a number of times in quick succession and, as the photo shows, we had some anxious moments before becoming quorate – but through the huge efforts of supportive MPs (Charlie Maynard take a bow) we got there.

So, we are very pleased to be able to confirm that our Chair for the forthcoming year will be Dame Siobhain McDonagh, ably supported by MPs Sarah Owen and Mims Davis, alongside Lord Polak, as the group’s officers.

Brain Tumour Research is once again proud to have been confirmed as the Group’s secretariat provider.

Following the formal proceedings, presentations were delivered on a novel form of drug delivery to the brain, the brain tumour vaccine DCVax and a new report on paediatric care from the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. Full meeting minutes will be available to view on our APPG page where you can also read more about the Group, its members, briefing documents and the minutes of previous meetings.

We asked Dame Siobhain for her thoughts ahead of a new year for our APPG and she told us: “I was very keen to stay as the Chair of the APPG on Brain Tumours and thank the Group’s Officers and Members for their support. My approach this year will be as before – what can we do to improve the options and outcomes for a patient diagnosed with a brain tumour today?

“We will call decision takers and change makers to our meetings to explain how they might work with us to improve a situation that has stagnated for a generation. For me, and for many of those involved with the Group, this is a deeply personal cause and one I promise to approach with passion, ambition and an overwhelming drive to make a difference.

“At times I feel we are progressing but then I hear another story of premature loss of hope and of life.

“I want our APPG to be the vehicle that not only keeps brain tumours high on the political agenda but the APPG that delivers to the people who matter most – patients and their families”

The Parliamentarians who at various points joined the meeting on Tuesday and to whom we are very grateful for their support on such a busy evening were:

  • Jim Shannon
  • Olly Glover
  • Calum Miller
  • Conor Rand
  • Charlie Maynard
  • Lord Carlile
  • Tulip Siddiq
  • Joy Morrissey
  • Siobhain McDonough
  • Peter Prinsley
  • Sharon Hodgson
  • Layla Moran
  • Scott Arthur

There have been several brain tumour questions and answers recently at Westminster. Click below to find out more on the subjects mentioned:

Brain Tumour Parliamentary questions are collated on this page with every relevant question in the new Parliament available for you to read. As a team we review all answers from Ministers and will seek to ask further questions and request clarification where needed on matters such as research spend.

This week Jana and Katherine have been involved in Westminster meetings meetings with senior politicians and are planning their next visits to the devolved nations to build on the Brain Tumour Research foundations Thomas established. Please do keep reading these updates to keep abreast of all they are up to – there will be another one next Friday.

Wishing you a peaceful time until then,

Karen, Hugh, Katherine and Jana

Hugh Adams, Head of Stakeholder Relations
Back to Research & Campaigning News