Theresa May tells tragic tale of her goddaughter who died of cancer as she hails the NHS
THERESA May today told the tragic story of how her goddaughter died from cancer - as she hailed Britain's precious NHS.
In an emotional address to the Tory party conference this year, the Prime Minister revealed her pain when her cousin's daughter fell ill a few years ago.
She undertook treatment but the cancer returned and she died last year, the a somber Mrs May told delegates.
And the Prime Minister revealed a new cancer strategy as part of a 70th birthday present for the NHS.
She said today: "Cancer can strike any of us at any time. A few years ago, my goddaughter was diagnosed with cancer.
"She underwent treatment and it seemed to be working. But then the cancer came back".
And she left the conference hall deeply moved when she added: "Last summer, she sent me a text to tell me no that she was hoping it see another Christmas. But she didn't make it."
The PM also referenced her Housing Secretary James Brokenshire’s treatment and recovery from cancer earlier this year.
He had to quit the cabinet for treatment, but came back as housing secretary a few months later.
The new strategy will improve early detection rates from one in two to three in four in the next decade.
Ministers revealed earlier this year they will slash the bowel cancer screening age from 60 to 50 - after the success of The Sun's No Time 2 Lose campaign.
Mrs May said today this move would help spot cancer sooner.
And she promised to invest in the latest cancer-detecting tech and diagnosing centers to help people get treatment quicker.
"It will mean that by 2028, 55,000 more people will be alive five years after their diagnosis compared to today.
"Every life saved means a parent, a partner, a child, a god mother spared the pain of losing a loved one before their time."
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Mrs May began her make-or-break speech today by dancing on stage.
The PM poked fun at her Maybot image as she got her groove on to Abba’s Dancing Queen before appealing to the party to get behind her.
And in a blast at Boris Johnson, Mrs May warned that anyone obsessed with getting “the perfect Brexit” risk leaving us tied to the EU forever.
She also took a pop at the top Brexiteer over his “f**k business” jibe – vowing to “back business” instead.
In the hour-long address, the PM:
- Repeatedly blasted Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism and his hard-left economic polices – saying Tories have a “duty” to keep him out of power
- Announced the end of austerity, vowing that spending on public services will rise
- Suggested she’ll continue in her job for years to come
- Announced a new NHS cancer strategy, after revealing her goddaughter died last year from the disease
- Scrapped the cap on how much councils can borrow in order to see more homes built
- Failed to mention the word “Chequers” once after criticism of her EU exit plan
Her speech was aimed at providing an upbeat vision for Britain post-Brexit – and after eight years of austerity.
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