Tessa Jowell urges MPs to ‘fight the good fight’ during emotional cancer debate

Tessa Jowell urged MPs to “keep fighting the good fight” to improve cancer treatment during an emotional Commons debate.

Tears were shed and applause rang out in the chamber for the former cabinet minister following more than two hours of praise from all sides over her campaigning to help people with brain tumours “live better lives for longer”.

Baroness Jowell, who has brain cancer, was accompanied by her family as she watched on from one of the galleries reserved for visitors.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt commended the Labour peer on behalf of Prime Minister Theresa May and the whole Cabinet, adding she had left two legacies via her “amazing achievements” with the London 2012 Olympics and her “amazing” campaigning on cancer.

He said: “It’s our privilege to take part in this debate and our duty to act on what she’s saying.”

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth also described Lady Jowell as “an inspiration to all of us”, telling the Commons: “I hope all members of the House find her bravery extraordinary – she has achieved so much and I just wanted to put on record that we will work constructively with Government to implement many of the recommendations that (Sarah Jones MP) is outlining.”

Labour’s Sarah Jones (Croydon Central), who used to work for Lady Jowell, had tabled a motion which praised her campaigning and called for greater sharing of health data and more adaptive clinical trials to improve outcomes for brain tumour patients.

Ms Jones concluded the debate by reading out part of a note from Lady Jowell, which drew inspiration from murdered Labour MP Jo Cox.

Lady Jowell wrote: “Living with cancer has taught me so much. I’ve been so lucky to be surrounded by such love from family, friends and fellow cancer patients.

“Today hearing so many of you talk about your own fights reminds me why I love this Palace of Westminster and the people who work here.

“It was a brilliant member of this House who spent far too short a time here who said ‘We have far more in common than that which divides us’ and today shows how much we can do when we all put our shoulders to the wheel.

“It was the honour of my life to be one of you and I shall cheer on from the sidelines as you keep fighting the good fight.

“So remember our battle cry – living with, not dying of cancer, for more people, for longer.”

Lady Jowell received a standing ovation in the House of Lords in January after making an emotional plea for more cancer treatments to be made available through the NHS.

Labour’s Helen Hayes, who succeeded Lady Jowell as MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, earlier said it was “extremely brave” but no surprise to see her working to help others.

Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, fought back tears as she paid tribute to Lady Jowell and told her: “We are with you.”

Her voice cracked with emotion as she added: “Politics is a rough old trade and sometimes you fall out with people, people that you think the most of.

“I just wanted to be here to say to Tessa – whatever arguments or disagreements, it counts for nothing in comparison to my admiration and my determination to do anything to support her in her campaign.”

Tory MP James Brokenshire, who stepped down as Northern Ireland secretary in January after revealing he required lung surgery, said Lady Jowell’s speech struck a particular chord with him given it came a week or so after his surgery.

Tory MP Eleanor Laing, a Deputy Speaker, and Labour former shadow cabinet minister Owen Smith went over and embraced Lady Jowell during the course of the proceedings.

Commons Speaker John Bercow said he hoped Lady Jowell had experienced “the warmth of that embrace of parliamentary love” before adding: “(Ms Jones) said that, in quoting from your letter, you loved this place.

“I hope it is blindingly obvious to you, Tessa, that we love you.”

The debate follows a landmark summit on brain tumours in London in February, triggered by Lady Jowell’s experience following her own diagnosis last year.

FORMER MINISTER PRESSES FOR MORE RADICAL APPROACH TO CANCER

Former cabinet minister James Brokenshire has called for a more “radical” approach to dealing with cancer, just weeks after having a tumour removed from his lung.

Mr Brokenshire also urged MPs to work together and quoted the “inspiring” words of Tessa Jowell as the Labour peer, who has brain cancer, watched on in the chamber.

The 50-year-old left his role as Northern Ireland Secretary in January, underwent surgery for lung cancer shortly after and returned to Parliament in February.

He paid tribute to the “incredible people” in the NHS for the care and compassion they delivered, adding praise for several charities.

Speaking during a debate on cancer, Mr Brokenshire referred to Lady Jowell’s speech to the House of Lords in January, saying anyone watching would have moved by her “powerful and poignant” words.

He said the timing of her speech “touched a particular chord with me”, coming “a week or so after my own surgery to remove a tumour from my lung”.

Mr Brokenshire said he hoped the Commons debate would result in “continued momentum and a sense of purpose” to bring about “real change”.

He praised Lisa and Matt Taylor, the parents of Olivia who was diagnosed with a currently inoperable brain tumour aged 17 months in January, and lost her sight in February along with other cognitive functions.

They live in his Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency and have developed the #KeepOliviaSmiling campaign online. Mr Brokenshire said he hoped MPs could help make a difference.

He also said he had recently given permission for a sample of his tumour to form part of molecular research as he raised genetic analysis, which can predict how a cancer will evolve.

He stressed the importance of working towards identifying the most effective treatments and immunotherapies for patients, labelling it a “potential game-changer”.

The Tory MP added: “I believe that the UK can be a world leader in this new era of precision medicine, driving forward innovative research to deliver new treatment options.

“But this will take time, when time for many is a precious commodity.

“That’s why the use of adaptive clinical trials remains important.

“Yes, there are existing routes to see new drug treatments being made available, such as the early access to medicine scheme and the Cancer Drugs Fund, but I believe we should be prepared to be more radical.”

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