From labs to legislation - 9 impactful steps forward for cancer policy in 2025 - Cancer Research UK

From campaigning and influencing on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, working with partners to shape England’s National Cancer Plan, launching manifestos ahead of the 2026 elections in Scotland and Wales, and influencing the delivery of Northern Ireland’s Cancer Research Strategic Framework, 2025 has been a busy and important year for cancer research policy.

1. Securing a Smokefree UK: making history with The Tobacco and Vapes Bill

The Bill will make it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009

This year, for our Smokefree UK campaign, we worked alongside campaigners and partners to champion the Tobacco and Vapes Bill across all four UK nations. This landmark piece of legislation will help create the UK’s first ever smokefree generation by progressively raising the age of sale for tobacco.

Smoking is the leading cause of cancer in the UK, responsible for around 160 new cases every day. Stopping young people from starting smoking is a key part of ending this cycle.

On 26 March, we were thrilled that MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Bill at its Third Reading, passing it through its final stages in the House of Commons.

The Bill is now progressing through the House of Lords, and we anticipate it receiving Royal Assent (becoming law) in the new year.

Beyond Westminster, we also campaigned in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to ensure that the Bill has the support of their respective legislatures. All three devolved governments have now passed Tobacco and Vapes Bill Legislative Consent Motions – a mechanism by which the UK Government seeks the agreement of each devolved nation’s government to create a single UK-wide law.

2. Making the National Cancer Plan for England a Turning Point for Cancer

A long-term cancer strategy for England was one of our key calls during last year’s general election. With the help of our supporters, we’ve been campaigning to ensure the plan becomes the turning point for cancer we need. Our efforts led Minister Stephen Kinnock MP to describe Cancer Research UK as being “at the forefront of advocating for a robust cancer strategy,” when committing to developing a National Cancer Plan for England.

For the plan to deliver change, it must be bold, ambitious, and fully funded. In March, we launched an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, urging him to ensure the plan includes vital commitments on waiting times, earlier diagnosis, inequalities, prevention, and research. More than over 20 public figures – including Larry Lamb, Self Esteem, and Alison Hammond – also joined the campaign.

An incredible 35,054 people signed our open letter. In October, campaigners gathered outside the London Stadium before Dame Deborah James’s father, Alistair, and London-based Campaigns Ambassador Alice delivered it to the Department of Health and Social Care.

Alistair James and Campaigns Ambassador Alice deliver the signed open letter to DHSC.

Behind the scenes, we’ve worked closely with government to shape the plan. Our policy and evidence teams hosted seminars with clinicians, academics, and specialists on critical issues like earlier diagnosis and improving treatment. The seminars formed the basis of a series of articles setting out steps the National Cancer Plan should take.

We expect the National Cancer Plan for England to be published early next year. Read more here.

3. Manifestos for living longer, better lives in the devolved nations

It’s been a busy year across Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. Ahead of the 2026 elections, we launched bold manifestos in Scotland and Wales to help people live longer, better lives, with Northern Ireland’s manifesto coming in September 2026.

A group of Cancer Research UK campaigners celebrating with signs saying 'I support a smokefree future' — Cancer Research UK campaigners in Scotland

Our manifestos for Scotland and Wales set out priorities for political parties to help cut cancer deaths by 15% by 2040, saving 10,100 lives in Scotland and 5,500 in Wales.

In Wales, we’re calling for a long-term cancer strategy, stronger NHS capacity, action on lung cancer, and greater support for research and innovation. In Scotland, we want full funding for the 10-year cancer strategy, more support for the NHS, investment in research, and backing for a proposed Scottish Health and Biomedical Institute. Thanks to collaboration with patients, stakeholders, and our Cancer Research UK ambassadors, we’ve secured major commitments across the nations.

Cancer Research UK Ambassador, Jody-Bullock in Wales

We’re also calling for national lung cancer screening programmes in each nation. Progress is underway, with Scottish and Welsh Governments committed to implementing programmes following successful pilots.

Ahead of our Northern Ireland manifesto work, we’ve supported the Northern Ireland Executive in developing its new Cancer Research Framework and will continue working to strengthen the research ecosystem. We’ve also taken on the vice-chair role of the Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition (NICCC), uniting the sector to campaign on shared priorities—such as meeting cancer waiting times.

4. Strengthening campaigning on science and research

This autumn, we invited our volunteer Campaigns Ambassadors to a series of Discovery Days at some of our state-of-the-art research institutes in Cambridge, Manchester, and the Francis Crick Institute in London.

Volunteer Campaigner Ambassadors attend a recent Discovery Day at the Francis Crick Institute in London

This gave Ambassadors a deeper insight into the science and research – vital knowledge which they can share with MPs. Campaigns Ambassadors play a vital role in influencing and driving political change by engaging with their political representatives.

Campaigners heard directly from Cancer Research UK funded scientists about their world-class research and breakthroughs and learnt more about our policy priorities for science and research, and how their advocacy strongly supports policy change.

It was so informative and inspiring. I know many people that I spoke to feel the same. All the extra insight we gained should help us in our ongoing campaigning.

- Carol Berry, volunteer Campaigns Ambassador.

2025 has been a busy year, with our campaigners involved in influencing politicians across the UK through our Smokefree UK, Turning Point for Cancer campaigns, and manifestos in Scotland and Wales. If you’d like to be a part of our next campaign, join the community today: Become a Campaigns Ambassador | Cancer Research UK

5. Breaking Down Barriers: global research collaboration

Cancer doesn’t stop at borders, and neither should research. That’s why we’ve made global medical research collaboration a priority in the UK Government’s relationship with the European Union (EU). Our policy report, Nothing Should Stand in the Way, received strong support from policymakers and the research community, highlighting why international partnerships – including clinical trials – are essential to beating cancer.

Laura Williams, Cancer Research UK (Third from left) with the Association of European Cancer Leagues at an event in the European Parliament, Brussels

We met with the EU Relations Minister, attended annual meetings of the Association of European Cancer Leagues and the European Cancer Organisation, and represented the Association of Medical Research Charities on the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement UK Domestic Advisory Group – giving science a direct voice in shaping UK-EU ties.

EU-funded projects that are already making an impact include DETERMINE, a precision cancer medicine trial that will share data with 18 countries across the whole European region through the PRIME-ROSE consortium (within Horizon Europe).

European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants were awarded to Professors Walid Khaled and Adrian Liston at our Cambridge Centre, and an ERC Starting Grant for Dr Evangelos Giampazolias at our Manchester Institute for his work on the gut microbiome.

Looking ahead to 2026, we’ll keep pushing to remove barriers to multinational trials and secure long-term investment in global cancer research – because beating cancer is a team effort.

6. Delivering global advocacy in Nepal and Malaysia

In 2024, we launched key projects to help prevent cancer globally. A year on, we’ve seen major progress in HPV vaccination in Nepal, and tobacco control in Malaysia.

Working with the Nepal Fertility Care Centre (NFCC) and the Nepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (NESOG), we championed equitable HPV vaccination through advocacy and awareness. In February, NFCC supported Nepal’s first National HPV Vaccination Campaign which was a landmark moment in the fight against cervical cancer. The campaign achieved over 90% coverage among eligible adolescent girls, including 2,300 out-of-school girls, closing critical gaps in access.

In Malaysia, our partners at the Social and Economic Research Initiative (SERI) secured the first increase in cigarette excise taxes in a decade – a major public health win. The government also pledged more funding for enforcement against illicit trade. Raising tobacco taxes saves lives and could prevent thousands of future cancer cases.

These achievements show what’s possible when local expertise and global advocacy come together. We’ll keep working with partners to sustain high HPV coverage in Nepal and push for stronger tobacco control in Malaysia.

7. Tackling Obesity means Tackling Cancer Risk

In 2025, we’ve again made progress in shaping policies to tackle obesity, the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. Working with partners including the Obesity Health Alliance, Scottish Obesity Alliance, and Obesity Action Cymru, we’ve strengthened advocacy and delivered evidence to influence governments and industry.

After years of campaigning, restrictions on advertising high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) foods on TV and online will come into force on 5 January 2026. We fed into consultations on secondary legislation and advertiser guidance and published research showing how junk food concerningly dominates young people’s social media feeds.

In England, restrictions on HFSS volume-based price promotions began in October. In Wales, the Senedd voted to pass legislation restricting HFSS price and location promotions, set for March 2026. Scotland passed similar legislation, due in October 2026.

In Scotland, the new Population Health Framework sets a 10-year cross-sector plan to improve life expectancy and support healthy living. In Wales, we have continued monitoring progress on prevention commitments. Following several years of work in Northern Ireland, including our input, NI’s Obesity Strategic Framework was published in November.

The UK Government’s 10-Year Health Plan in England included further prevention measures including mandatory Healthy Food Standards—a call we championed with Tesco Health Partnership, the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK.We have also welcomed the Government’s decision to extend the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) to milk-based drinks and lower the sugar threshold—a move we’ve long campaigned for.

8. Campaigning in Coalition Across the UK in 2025

Working in partnership with others is key to securing change for people affected by cancer.

In England, we lead the One Cancer Voice coalition of over 70 charities. In August we came together to unite in our calls for the National Cancer Plan. We called for bold, robust, fully, funded commitments across prevention, diagnosis, treatment, workforce, and research and assembled outside Parliament to make our voices heard.

One Cancer Voice assembled outside Parliament

In Wales, we campaigned with the Wales Cancer Alliance (WCA) for a dedicated long term cancer strategy. We gave evidence at the Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, highlighting how effective long-term cancer strategies are in improving early diagnosis, workforce planning, and cancer prevention. These priorities are marked in the WCA’s manifesto, which Cancer Research UK contributed to.

Cancer Research UK chairs the Scottish Cancer Coalition, co-ordinating over 30 charities. The Coalition unites organisations to speak with one voice and influence national cancer policy and strategy. It amplifies patient perspectives and plays a pivotal role in shaping priorities such as the Cancer Strategy.

The Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition (NICCC), which launched in June 2024, unites over 35 charities behind a shared mission to improve prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and patient support. Recent advocacy wins include securing cross-party support for the Legislative Consent Motion on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, reinforcing Northern Ireland’s commitment to reducing smoking rates.

9. Backing the Breakthroughs with the Cancer Detectives

In November, we partnered with Channel 4 to launch Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures, a powerful documentary series showcasing pioneering research funded by Cancer Research UK.

Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures poster — Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures

Breakthroughs featured included Professor Sarah Blagden’s LungVax – a lung cancer prevention vaccine. This is just one of the world-leading projects from our 4,000 strong research community tackling over 200 cancer types.

To mark the series, we hosted a Back the Breakthroughs panel discussion in Parliament, calling on policymakers to cut red tape around clinical trials so researchers can accelerate progress.

The panel was chaired by Dr Ian Walker, our Executive Director of Policy, Information and Communications, and featured Sarah Blagden, Professor of Experimental Oncology, the Rt Hon Lord David Willetts, Chair of the Regulatory Innovation Office of Science and Technology, Dr Lauren Sullivan MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Board, Nicola Perrin, Chief Executive Officer at the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), and Michael Anderson, a PLATO ACT4 trial participant patient.

Over 100 attendees were present, including MPs responding to supporter calls to back the breakthroughs, to hear how they can help speed up life-saving research.

Behind every breakthrough is years of research, collaboration, and commitment. We need policymakers to back this work so we can turn discoveries into treatments faster.

- Dr Ian Walker, Executive Director of Policy, Information and Communications, Cancer Research UK

Looking Ahead to 2026

It’s been another impactful year for our policy and external affairs work. In 2026, we’ll continue working with people affected by cancer, our campaigners, partner charities and other stakeholders across the UK and internationally to influence policy that improves cancer outcomes. We’ll champion evidence and research to drive innovation, prevent more cancers, drive early diagnoses earlier, and more effective treatment, and create the best environment for research to thrive.

We can’t do this alone, so thank you for your continued support. 