General Election: Doing whatever it takes to get cancer on the agenda
What we've achieved together
Within minutes of the election being announced, we started our response on social media and since then we’ve been helping thousands of you to email all your local candidates and ask them to champion cancer care in the next Parliament – remarkably you've contacted candidates in 91% of all UK constituencies, with well over 100 responding to your requests too. If you’ve had a reply from a candidate, please do forward it to our team: campaigns@macmillan.org.uk
Breaking through the noise
A few weeks into the election campaign, we cut through the noise to firmly put cancer care on the agenda with a breaking story uncovering how UK cancer care lags behind comparable European countries, and profiling some of your first-hand experiences too.
This story secured over 100 pieces of coverage including the front page of the Telegraph and reached as many as 31 million people across the UK. It’s been talked about by Victoria Derbyshire, Rory Stewart, Dr Anisha and the Prime Minister himself, when he was grilled about it live on LBC News!
To help it spread further, we also launched a vox pop video on social media engaging tens of thousands more. Crucially, we’ve seen an influx of people visiting our website following the coverage, who would have been able to learn more about the support we provide and how to get involved
Speaking up again and again
We’ve also joined coalitions to unite on vital issues, such as with Trussell Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation as part of their ‘Essentials Guarantee’ campaign, calling for the basic rate of Universal Credit to at least cover the cost of essentials like food, household bills and travel costs.
What we need to see next
We’ll be following up with MPs and Ministers as they’re appointed and be identifying key ways we can influence them together in the coming months. Below are three things you can do to help now.
How you can help this General Election
1. Join our campaign network
In the weeks following the results, we’ll be sharing easy, simple steps you can take to make cancer care a priority for the next government. Simply sign up to our short email updates today and you’ll be the first to hear how you can help.2. Share your story
Do you have a story to share about how cancer has affected you? Telling your story - as much or as little as you are comfortable with - can help others feel less alone, and even help influence the next government to improve cancer services. Whether your cancer care or treatment has been impacted by delays or underfunding, or you're an NHS professional struggling to keep up – we would love to explore how we can work together and help make a difference. Email us at campaigns@macmillan.org.uk3. Make your vote count!
Make sure you vote on 4 July. Polling stations are open 7am-10pm. If you have a medical emergency, disability or have lost your photo ID – and you’re in England, Scotland or Wales – you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote until 5pm on the day of the election.Got questions? We want to hear from you! Email us at campaigns@macmillan.org.uk.
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How we can help