After months of cross-party support and progress, the Rare Cancers Bill is now at serious risk of falling. We urgently need your help to make sure it passes.
On Friday 11 July, the Bill returns to the House of Commons for its Third Reading – the final opportunity for MPs to back this transformational piece of legislation. But a last-minute amendment has been submitted that could trigger a vote, and if not enough MPs are present in the chamber, the Bill could collapse.
This would be a devastating outcome for those living with rare and less common cancers, and for the many who have worked tirelessly to support the Bill.
We need your help to urge MPs to attend and show their support. Use the template letter below to email your MP and ask them to be in the chamber on Friday morning.
Background
Earlier this month, the Rare Cancers Bill passed Committee Stage unopposed, with strong cross-party backing. You can read more about that here.
However, the tabling of a last-minute amendment now places the Bill in danger. If fewer than 40 MPs are present, or fewer than 27 vote in support, the Bill could fall — a fate that has befallen many Private Members’ Bills on Friday sittings.
Please write to your MP using the template below
Copy and paste the letter below into an email to your MP. You can find their contact details at: https://www.writetothem.com
Subject: URGENT: The Rare Cancers Bill is at risk – we need your help
Dear [MP Name],
As your constituent, I’m urging you to declare your support for the Rare Cancers Bill, introduced by Dr Scott Arthur MP, by attending its third reading on Friday 11 July at 10am.
An amendment has been tabled that may trigger a vote. If there are not enough MPs present, the Bill risks falling – a devastating outcome after so much progress.
This transformational Bill would improve access to clinical trials for people living with rare and less common cancers, which make up 47% of UK cancer diagnoses and 55% of cancer deaths, yet remain significantly under-researched.
Other countries have taken measures to incentivise pharmaceutical companies to invest in clinical trials for rare cancers and the UK has fallen behind.
This means that rare cancer patients in the UK are missing out on potentially life-saving clinical trials, with a recent survey showing that 82% of those with rare and less common cancers were not consulted on joining a clinical trial.
This Bill offers new hope for those diagnosed with rare cancers, with a plan to incentivise new, cutting-edge research.
The Rare Cancers Bill will:
- Appoint a named responsible lead for the delivery of rare cancer research, providing greater accountability, facilitating collaboration and long-term coordination for the UK’s research landscape.
- Commit the Government to review the UK’s Orphan Drug Regulations, examining what can be done to improve the regulations to support the development of treatments for rare cancer treatments.
- Ensuring that patients can be easily contacted about relevant research and clinical trials, thereby improving access to trials and the quality of trials in the UK.
As your constituent, I strongly believe that supporting this Bill is a crucial step toward improving outcomes for those affected by rare cancers. I urge you to represent the voices of those living with these devastating conditions and declare yourself supportive of the Rare Cancers Bill.
Please CC RareCancersBill@h-advisors.global in your outreach, as they are tracking which MPs are supporting the Bill.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address / Postcode]
Time is Short – Please Act Now
Please send this letter to your MP today — and share this blog with your colleagues, friends, and networks. If enough MPs show up on Friday morning, this Bill can clear a major hurdle and move one step closer to delivering change for everyone affected by rare and less common cancers.
If you do hear back from your MP, please do let us know by contacting the Policy team via the following email address: policy@thebraintumourcharity.org