Burstow Backs Battle To Stop Cancer Discrimination

5.46.55pm GMT Fri 4th Feb 2005

Paul Burstow MP for Sutton and Cheam today supported Macmillan Cancer Relief's plea to end cancer discrimination by signing a parliamentary petition.

The Early Day Motion (EDM), which carries cross party support, urges the Government to change the law so that everyone with cancer is protected from unjustified discrimination. At the moment the Government is proposing to exclude certain types of cancer from the Disability Discrimination Bill currently making its way through parliament.

EDM 625 highlights that most of the discrimination faced by people with cancer, for example in employment, is the result of the stigma and ignorance that often surrounds cancer.

Peter Cardy, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Relief said:

"We believe that often people simply hear the word 'cancer' and make unjustified assumptions without realising that a cancer diagnosis covers 200 different diseases and has vastly different implications for different people. People with cancer need to know that the law is on their side. With Paul and his parliamentary colleagues' help we hope we can persuade Government to change the law".

Paul Burstow MP commented:

"I am sponsoring this Commons Motion to send a message to the government that no unjustified discrimination against people who have had a cancer diagnosis should be tolerated. By excluding certain types of cancers from the protection of Disability Discrimination legislation it gives the green light for discrimination to continue unchecked. The Government should act now to ensure that does not happen".