• Latest News
• Our policy positions
• Working with Government
  • Westminster
    • Latest News
    • Events
      • Molewatch Clinic 2008
      • Westminster - Volunteers’ Week 2008
      • Healthy Living 2008
      • Minister visits researchers in Southampton
      • National Science and Engineering Week 2008
      • Party Conferences 2007
      • Party conferences 2008
      • MPs spread the word that Screening Matters
      • Molewatch Clinic 2007
      • Westminster Arctic Challenge MPs lab tour
      • ‘Cancer Champion’ parliamentary awards
      • Volunteers' Week
      • Cancer 2020 campaign day
      • MPs visit to Cancer Research UK’s laboratories
      • Party Conference season 2006
      • Fake cigarette packs
      • Britain's Biggest Breakfast
      • Activity seminars
    • All-Party Parliamentary Groups
    • Contact us
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • N Ireland
  • Europe
  • Manifestos
• The National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI)
• Contact Us

Cancer 2020 campaign day

Cancer 2020, the latest campaign from Cancer Research UK, held a day of parliamentary activities on 22nd November 2006 to urge the government to update the Cancer Plan.

The day began with Linda Gilroy, MP for Plymouth Sutton, urging the Prime Minister to commit to an updated Cancer Plan beyond 2010 at Prime Minister’s Question Time. Tony Blair agreed that the first Cancer Plan had delivered great progress and that Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director is looking at the need to update the plan.

Petition hand-in

Professor Alex Markham, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, then delivered a petition to Downing Street, signed by a quarter of a million people, all urging the government to keep cancer at the top of the agenda.

Danielle Hefti, a 6 year old from Birmingham who had beaten cancer earlier this year, joined Professor Markham to hand in the petition.

Professor Markham said: “The Cancer Plan in England has led to important advances in cancer and this progress should be applauded. We are now calling for this strategy to be updated so that a new Plan will service the future.

“There are no overnight solutions but politicians have the chance to build fairness and equality for all cancer patients into a new plan for cancer services. As new and better treatments emerge from research it is crucial that all patients can benefit equally.”

Cancer 2020 parliamentary reception

Ian Gibson MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer, hosted a reception in parliament to highlight the hand-in of the petition with parliamentarians and to celebrate the successful campaign for smoke-free workplaces.

Rosie Winterton MP and Caroline Flint MP, both ministers at the Department of Health, attended the reception.

The reception was attended by numerous peers and MPs, many of which had already signalled their support for an updated Cancer Plan through signing an Early Day Motion.

Cancer 2020 campaign success

On 30th November Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, announced the government would be updating the Cancer Plan in England.

Cancer Research UK is delighted with this result and we will now be presenting the petition to the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.