UUP MLAs commit to addressing cancer at their party conference
At their Annual Conference this weekend, UUP MLAs, Westminster representatives, councillors, and more pledged to support cancer prevention and the resourcing of the NI Cancer Strategy.
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland attended the conference, held on Saturday 28th September at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Belfast, 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 times.
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. Signees include:
- Lord Reg Empey
- Lord Tom Elliott
- Robin Swann MP
- Robbie Butler MLA
- Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA
- Alan Chambers MLA
- John Stewart MLA
- Colin Crawford MLA
- Diana Armstrong MLA
- Cllr Julie Flaherty
- Cllr Roy Crawford
Reflecting on the conference, Emily Bishko, Policy & Public Affairs Officer at Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, says:
“We are so glad to have been able to attend the UUP conference this weekend and to hear so much support for needed initiatives to address cancer. This is especially meaningful coming from UUP representatives, given the Party’s role in helming the Health Department. On that note, we also wish Minister Nesbitt a speedy recovery from Covid, and congratulate him on his confirmation as Party Leader.
“There are many UUP representatives with an interest in health, so it was great to be able to catch-up with them at the Conference. We also appreciated the chance to introduce ourselves to the new MLAs, Colin Crawford and Diana Armstrong. Overall, we had several productive conversations and were glad to be there.”
Switching subjects, Emily adds: “We know the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis was also on this weekend, and we sincerely regret that travel complications to Athlone prevented us from attending. We saw health was featured and are encouraged by a commitment to cancer seen across NI Parties.”
UUP officials and members with Cancer Focus NI at their 2024 Party Conference:
