Martin Frizell, the husband of former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, has said there is 'so much hope' riding on Andy Burnham and Louise Casey as he shared a new photograph of his wife at home.
The film producer, 67, has been caring for Ms Phillips since she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2022. In a social media post, Mr Frizell reflected on how his wife was once asked by Gordon Brown to become a health minister and would have worked with Mr Burnham, who was then Health Secretary.
Mr Burnham, whose father also has Alzheimer's, has promised to reform social care. His plans include accelerating Baroness Louise Casey's review of the sector so it reports next year, improving the workforce's "strength and capability", and holding cross-party talks with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
Writing online, Mr Frizell said the new Prime Minister, who knows what Alzheimer's can do from his father's experience, could become "the most consequential politician of his generation" if he follows through on making a difference. He added: "For decades no-one listened, dementia became the poor relation to cancer and yet it's our biggest killer."
Ms Phillips first revealed her diagnosis in July 2023, saying she felt "more angry than anything else" because the disease had affected her parents, grandparents, uncle and herself. Earlier this year, Mr Frizell appeared on Good Morning Britain to say she no longer recalls major recent events but remains "still very much with us".
