BBC Breakfast host Charlie Stayt has questioned whether Andy Burnham's response to a swimmer's emotional plea for more brain cancer funding will lead to real change.
During Saturday's episode, Charlie and co-host Sarah Campbell spoke with Nicola Nuttall, whose daughter Laura died in May 2023 at age 23 from glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive and incurable brain cancer.
Nicola teared up discussing Archie Goodburn's plea, saying: "I think he has made a phenomenal difference in such a short time. It makes me really emotional to talk about it because he did such a great job of just cutting through and showing what it is really like living with a brain tumour and the frustration that we all feel about the fact that nothing has changed."
Archie Goodburn's plea
Earlier in the week, Commonwealth Games athlete Archie, diagnosed with inoperable brain tumors at 22, cried on the BBC morning show as he urged the Prime Minister to step up resources and "give us a chance to fight for our lives."
Archie, now 25, said: "Andy Burnham, if you believe and you want to make a change and difference to the future of our country and our young population, please listen to us."
Nicola added that the last drug available for brain cancer was made available 25 years ago, and the government needs to do more, including having a national brain cancer lead to help navigate challenges and be accountable for research and treatment.
Andy Burnham's response
Andy Burnham has since offered to meet Archie, reacting online: "Archie, thank you for this. I know how hard it must have been. What you're doing for other people, while you're going through all this yourself, shows the best of us. I'd really like to meet you and hear from you directly, and I've asked my team to get in touch."
However, Charlie challenged Andy's reaction on Saturday's show, questioning whether it would be enough to bring change in brain cancer charities, research, and patients.
He said: "Nicola, you have spoken to us many times, and you spoke a moment ago about your frustrations about what little has changed. Now, I'm not going to put words into your mouth, but the easy part of this process is an appeal on this sofa, direct to a new Prime Minister. And the easy part, in a way, is Andy Burnham responding and saying 'I'd love to meet and have the conversation', those are the easy bits, aren't they? The only thing that matters is whether something changes. I assume you're optimistic, but you know the realities because you have tried to get stuff done before."
Call for concrete actions
Nicola replied: "I am hopeful because we have Andy Burnham in charge now, and my dealings with Andy so far in life have been really positive. But meeting Archie can't just be a photo opportunity and a lovely selfie with him that's shared on social media, because we've done this, we've been here before. It needs to translate into actual, measurable, and quantifiable changes."
Nicola went on to call the situation "bad" and called for "concrete actions" from the government.
BBC Breakfast is available to watch on BBC One from 6am.
