£50m PM pledged to beat MND snared by red tape

CAMPAIGNERS have called for the Government to slash red tape they say is stalling research to find a cure for motor neurone disease and hand over £50million of promised funding.

Yesterday was the six-month anniversary of Boris Johnson announcing the money for targeted research to treat the terminal condition.

But despite his pledge, backed by Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, not a penny of this funding has yet been allocated to scientists.

The No10 promise came last November after the Sunday Express launched our Fund The Fight To Cure MND crusade with patients, scientists and charities. The United 2 End MND coalition has sent a letter to Mr Javid and Mr Kwarteng, writing: “Time does not wait for those living with this devastating, terminal condition and the hope that the November announcement gave rise to in our community is now slipping away.

“We believe the key barrier to progress is unnecessary red tape.”

Patient Emma Moss, who blogs as Mummy with MND, said: “The insistence of the Government to stick to current processes requiring onerous multiple applications means we are unlikely to get the work started this year…

“Progress towards the first meaningful treatments for MND will be put back decades, not years.”

Top neurologists met senior civil servants last week to discuss the issue. Prof Chris Mcdermott, from Sheffield University, said: “Our meeting was productive, but we are not there yet.”

Prof Ammar Al-chalabi, from King’s College London, added: “We are making slow but steady progress.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We remain committed to spending at least another £50million to help find a cure. Researchers can apply now to the National Institute for Health and Care Research and UK Research and Innovation.

“We will support the MND research community in making these applications.”