Above is a screenshot from the campaigning webinar we delivered on Tuesday evening.
Our guest speaker was former Health Minister Will Quince and we were joined on the call by campaigners from across the UK, plus one who joined us from Canada.
We were really pleased to have long-term supporter, the TV property expert Sarah Beeny, join us on Tuesday, too; she has always taken a keen interest in the political side of what we do.
We decided to review 2024 from a Westminster and devolved nations perspective and both Hugh and Thomas presented slides looking back at the year (see above) but then followed up with slides looking forward (see below).
We made sure we left time for a lengthy chat with Will, though, and he was very gracious in his comments on the style and tenacity of our campaigning. He drew comparisons with the MND campaign which, like ours, delivered the promise of increased research funding but struggled with the actual deployment of this money. He spoke about making sure, where possible, to get support from the Treasury and Number 10, as well as The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the importance of making 'noise' and never letting the need for research into brain tumours fall off the political agenda.
I am pleased to share that, should you have wished to join us but were unable to on the evening, a recording of the event is available on YouTube – please just click here.
This week, Thomas attended the Less Survivable Cancer Taskforce (LSCT) All Members Meeting. Brain Tumour Research has been a registered supporter of the Taskforce since 2020.
The meeting looked at the key achievements of the Taskforce in 2024. This included influencing policy in Westminster by giving oral evidence to the Health Select Committee for the Future Cancer Inquiry. Representatives of the LSCT also met with officials at the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss the NHS 10-Year Plan.
In Scotland, the LSCT met with Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray to discuss the urgent need to prioritise less survivable cancers as part of Scotland’s wider cancer strategy. Moreover, the Taskforce highlighted the importance of lung cancer screening and pathways for brain tumours.
In Wales, the LSCT has been visible at Welsh party conferences. At the main political conferences, LSCT representatives supported colleagues at various fringe events. We were grateful for this support at our own Health Charity Showcase event, promoting a pathway to a cure through more and better research into brain tumours, at Labour and Conservative party conferences.
Looking ahead to 2025, LSCT will mark Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week from 13th to 20th January with events in Westminster and the devolved parliaments. In Westminster, the Taskforce will help to create a new APPG on the Less Survivable Cancers. Finally, in Scotland and Wales, they will provide political support ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.
We will be back with another update next week.
Wishing you all a peaceful week until then,
Hugh, Thomas and Evan
Published Friday 6th December 2024.