West Lancashire MP Ashley Dalton announced that she was standing down as a Minister in the Department for Health and Social Care to focus on being a constituency MP.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the MP spoke of her pride in introducing the National Cancer Plan to Parliament last month.
Dalton, who held the Government brief for Public Health and Prevention and is herself a cancer patient, says she is stepping down as a minister to make “reasonable adjustments” to her workload.
The MP has been clear though that her oral chemotherapy treatment will not stop her being a “powerful voice” for West Lancashire.
In her ministerial role, Dalton has led the Government’s work on three health strategies in her 13-month tenure. The National Cancer Plan published last month followed the HIV Action Plan and the Men’s Mental Health Strategy published last year.
Speaking on her decision, 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 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 signalling her intention to stand down from her ministerial responsibilities, Prime Minister 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.”