FORMER prime minister Rishi Sunak has been named an ambassador for Prostate Cancer Research, supporting its campaign for a national screening programme for men at high risk of the disease.
The announcement follows Sunak’s visit to Oxford BioDynamics last week, where he learned about the EpiSwitch PSE blood test, which can detect prostate cancer with 94 per cent accuracy. This is seen as a major improvement over the commonly used PSA test.
Sunak also spoke to patients about the importance of early detection.
The former prime minister, who is the MP for Richmond and Northallerton, said he was “honoured” to support the charity’s mission.
“Men tend to ignore pain, hoping it will go away. That’s one reason why prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males in the UK,” he said.
As an ambassador, Sunak will back the charity’s efforts to improve research, diagnosis, and treatment. Prostate Cancer Research’s Proactive for Your Prostate campaign is pushing for a targeted national screening programme and better diagnostic tools using AI.
According to reports, prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK, with around one in eight men affected in their lifetime. The new PSE test is already available privately across the country. Oliver Kemp, CEO of Prostate Cancer Research, called his support “invaluable”.
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.