Here we reflect on the 2017 general election.
For more information on how we work with parliament go to our campaigning section, or check out our latest news on the 2019 general election.
The diabetes manifesto 2017
During the run up to the election we asked you to contact your parliamentary candidates and share our diabetes manifesto. We wanted as many candidates as possible to pledge their support to the manifesto and champion diabetes care in Parliament and their local area should they be elected.
A huge thank you to everyone who took action. We had an incredible number of responses to our manifesto and have far exceeded our expectations: 797 people living with or affected by diabetes completed the e-action.
In all, 298 parliamentary candidates signed the manifesto or expressed their support.
Of these 298, 53 are now MPs.
This is a great response. The challenge will now be to make sure those 53 MPs do what they can to champion diabetes in Parliament.
What else does the election mean for diabetes care, treatment and Type 2 prevention?
We were pleased to see manifesto commitments from all the major parties on diabetes and on childhood obesity. This gives us scope to follow-up with party officials – for example, Ministers and Shadow Ministers for Health – and push them on these commitments. However, as a result of the hung Parliament, it may be that some of these commitments will fall by the wayside. Watch this space.
So what now?
As well as securing meetings with relevant Secretaries of State and Ministers, we’ll be in touch with all those who have been elected and signed up to our manifesto. We’ll be re-launching the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for diabetes, attending party conferences and are beginning to put in place plans for our Future of Diabetes parliamentary reception on World Diabetes Day
Together we can create a world where diabetes can do no harm.
