Politician's emotional speech about her cancer got a standing ovation in Parliament
There wasn't a dry eye in the House of Lords yesterday afternoon when a former Cabinet minister delivered an emotional speech about her battle with cancer.
Her moving words got a standing ovation, and has since been hailed "one of the most emotional speeches" heard in Parliament for years.
Tessa Jowell, who's undergoing treatment for brain cancer, talked about coming to terms with the end of her own life, and appealed to the government to back a new cancer treatment.
"For what would every cancer patient want? First, to know that the best, the latest science was being used and available for them," said Jowell.
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"Seamus Heaney's last words were 'noli timere.' Do not be afraid," she said. "I am not afraid. I am fearful that this new and important approach may be put into the 'too difficult' box, but I also have such great hope."
She spoke about how "so many cancer patients collaborate and support" one another each day.
"They create that community of love and determination that they find each other everyday," she said. "All we now ask is that doctors and health systems learn to do the same, and for us to work together to learn from each other."
"In the end, what gives a life meaning is not only how it is lived, but how it draws to a close," concluded Jowell.
Some peers appeared to brush away tears as Jowell spoke, and every single member of the house took to their feet once Jowell had finished.
Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.
A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.
Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.
