Former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson has announced he is taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords following the recurrence of his cancer. The Labour peer was initially diagnosed with non-aggressive prostate cancer in March 2023, from which he later received the all clear. However, in a Substack post on Friday, he revealed that the disease had returned earlier this year.
Details of the Diagnosis
Lord Watson, who served under both Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, wrote that initial tests suggest this second bout of cancer has "gone," but he is scheduled for further checks later this summer. His announcement comes amid government advice against a population-wide prostate cancer screening programme, recommending testing only for a "few thousand" high-risk men.
Struggle with Weight
In his Substack post, Lord Watson also detailed his renewed struggle with weight. He had previously lost more than 125 pounds but admitted to regaining weight after ceasing exercise following his initial diagnosis. He described his busy schedule in the House of Lords, combined with renovating a house, as contributing to "over 1,000 days of drift and denial." He said he had previously used the weight-loss drug Mounjaro but had put the weight back on. He has now stopped drinking, is exercising more, and has changed his diet.
Personal Reflections
The former MP for West Bromwich East wrote: "I knew the weight was piling on because my clothes no longer fitted me. I did not know how much I weighed because the denial toxin was flowing through my veins again." He continued: "Not only was I obese again, but the cancer came back earlier this year. Is it weird to say this was the wake-up call I needed to choose life again? Perhaps it is. But it is true." He added: "This time, I knew I had to build life around health again. Not bolt it on. Not squeeze it into whatever was left after work, travel, stress, email, politics, family, deadlines and the general admin of being alive."
Leave of Absence
Lord Watson said he has taken a leave of absence from the House of Lords for treatment and recuperation. "Initial tests suggest the cancer has gone, though I will not know for certain until more tests in the summer. Despite the uncertainty, I feel good. Chipper, in fact," he wrote. Earlier this year, he led a Bill through the House of Lords to allow pubs to stay open later for events of "national significance," including international football finals.
