Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, responding to a study for Cancer Research UK showing one in two people will get cancer at some point in their lives, said: 

“This research is a wake-up call to us all. 

“It calls for boldness from political parties to address the challenge of cancer as we all live for longer. 

“That is why Labour is committed to preventing cancers from developing, with plans to raise levels of physical activity, improve diets and cut smoking rates.

“We need to improve cancer care too. Labour will guarantee a maximum one-week wait for cancer tests and create a new Cancer Treatments Fund to improve access to drugs, radiotherapy and surgery. Labour will also invest an additional £2.5 billion a year – over and above Tory plans – to recruit 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 more GPs and 5,000 extra home care workers.

“When it comes to cancer, speed is everything - but patients are being badly let down. Under David Cameron, growing numbers are waiting too long to get tested for cancer and the NHS has repeatedly missed the target for treatment too.”