West Lancashire MP leaves government health role as cancer treatment continues
West Lancashire MP Ashley Dalton has announced that she is standing down as a government health minister in order to make "reasonable adjustments” to her workload as she continues cancer treatment.
Ms. Dalton, who was responsible for public health and prevention, said she also wanted to focus on being a constituency MP.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, she spoke of her pride in introducing the National Cancer Plan to Parliament last month. Sir Keir Starmer said her contribution had been all the more “remarkable” because of her own condition.
The Labour MP last year revealed that she had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, which is treatable, but for which there is currently no cure. She had first been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014.
Speaking about her decision to step down from government after 13 months, Ashley Dalton said: “My constituents deserve a Member of Parliament to represent them with diligence and conviction.
“Whilst my oral chemotherapy treatment will not stop me from being that champion for West Lancashire, I believe now is the right time to take the reasonable adjustments I need to both manage my condition and focus on being a constituency MP by stepping back from ministerial duties.
“I’m proud of the work I have led in government. The three [health] strategies we have published will be transformational to the lives of patients across the country.
“I’m especially proud of the work we’ve done on the National Cancer Plan. Cancer patients can be confident that they are at the heart of the plan because there was a cancer patient at the head of the plan.”
In a response to her letter Sir Keir Starmer said: “I am particularly grateful, as you know, for your work on the National Cancer Plan. It will allow us to improve survival, care, research, and the wellbeing of millions of cancer patients. To complete the work whilst receiving ongoing treatment yourself is a remarkable contribution.
“Whilst I will be sorry to lose you from the frontbench, I know you will continue to serve your constituents in West Lancashire with the energy and commitment you have shown as a minister.”