Jeff Smith, Labour MP for Manchester Withington, recently met with Cancer Research UK to discuss their work in Manchester and the #SmokefreeUK campaign.

Tobacco is the biggest cause of cancer in the UK, causing 54,300 cancer cases a year – around 150 cases of cancer every day.

Lower smoking rates can reduce the strain on the NHS and social care sector and help people lead healthier lives, leading to improved productivity and saving people money at a time when every penny counts.

Governments in England, Scotland and Wales already have smokefree targets, though Northern Ireland has not set one. If those targets were achieved today, 4.9 million fewer people would smoke across the UK.

But Cancer Research UK modelling shows no nation is currently on track to meet its smokefree ambitions without further action. CRUK is calling for UK-wide action without delay to reduce the number of people who start smoking and increase the number of people who stop smoking.

An Action on Smoking and Health poll found that 74 per cent of adults also support the UK Government’s 2030 ambition for England.

In Manchester, 10,700 people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Around 4,700 people in Manchester sadly die from cancer each year.

Manchester is home to a number of Cancer Research UK facilities and programmes such as the Manchester Institute, Manchester Centre, and the Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence. In 2021/22, Cancer Research UK invested nearly £28 million in Manchester.

Jeff said:

“I’m pleased to support the vital work that Cancer Research UK does in Manchester and across the UK. Not only do they support the nation’s health by driving forward advancements in the treatment, prevention and cure of cancer, but their work also supports job creation and benefits the economy.

“It was great to catch up with the CRUK team to discuss this as well as their #SmokefreeUK campaign. Decades of action has led to fewer people smoking, but more action is needed to meet the UK’s smoke free target and boost our population’s health.”