National cancer plan: Govt "must show far more ambition"

EMBARGO: 22.30 Tuesday 3rd February 2026

Responding to the Government's National cancer plan announced on World cancer day, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 

“Having lost both parents to cancer as a child, it has been devastating to meet family after family whose loved one is suffering without the treatment they need. I’m afraid that this unfunded plan - despite its warm promises - won’t be anything like enough to restore our broken, overwhelmed cancer services.

“Until the government guarantees that every patient will start treatment within 62 days of referral we will continue to see needless tragedy. Their aim to halve the backlog in 3 years’ time is nowhere near ambitious enough - they must end these unacceptably long waits altogether.

“The Liberal Democrats have put forward a fully costed plan for hundreds more radiotherapy machines and more cancer nurses, so everyone gets the early treatment and support they need, without having to travel for hours for it. We urge Keir Starmer to steal our ideas and show far more ambition in the fight against cancer.”

ENDS