MPs, MLAs and more commit to cancer at the 2024 DUP Conference
This weekend at the DUP Annual Conference, held from 20th-21st September at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Belfast, 28 Peers, MPs, MLAs, and Councillors pledged support to cancer prevention and the resourcing of the NI Cancer Strategy.
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland attended the conference to raise awareness of cancer and its impact in the community. The charity’s stall highlighted what support services are available for patients and loved ones, while also providing detail on cancer risk factors. Throughout, the charity urged action on the NI Cancer Strategy and waiting lists.
As part of this, MPs, MLAs, and more were asked to sign a “Cancer Commitment”: that they would support the funding and implementation of the NI Cancer Strategy to ensure delivery on cancer prevention and research, to enable better cancer outcomes.
Speaking about the conference, Emily Bishko, Policy & Public Affairs Officer of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, commented:
“Our mission as a charity is to support local people on their cancer journey and to work to reduce the risk, impact, and outcomes of all cancers. We are encouraged that so many DUP officials came by to talk with us – including deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Party Leader Gavin Robinson MP. Addressing cancer requires action from every level of government, and we are glad to have had the chance to raise this with DUP members and decision-makers.
“In Northern Ireland, we are capable of providing excellent medical services, but unfortunately we continue to lag behind the rest of the UK in terms of waiting times and also, perhaps relatedly, efficiency of care. We look forward to working with the DUP to get health back on-track and on-par with UK standards.”
The full list of officials that signed the Cancer Focus NI “Cancer Commitment” is:
- Lord Browne
- Lord Weir
- Gavin Robinson MP
- Carla Lockhart MP
- Gordon Lyons MLA
- Cheryl Brownlee MLA
- Tom Buchanan MLA
- Diane Dodds MLA
- Stephen Dunne MLA
- Deborah Erskine MLA
- Diane Forsythe MLA
- Harry Harvey MLA
- Peter Martin MLA
- Gary Middleton MLA
- Cllr Philip Anderson
- Cllr Linda Clarke
- Cllr Jordan Doran
- Cllr Davy Douglas
- Cllr Keith Elliott
- Cllr Bradley Ferguson
- Cllr Alan Graham
- Cllr Tracy Kelly
- Cllr James Lawlor
- Cllr John McAuley
- Cllr Andrew McCormick
- Cllr Ian McLaughlin
- Cllr Paul Rankin
- Cllr Mervyn Storey
DUP officials with Cancer Focus NI at the DUP Party Conference 2024:
