CROSS-PARTY MPs are backing calls for a UK-led vaccine trial to help children with cancer.

Kim Leadbeater, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, and Tom Tugendhat, Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling, have convened a roundtable of experts to advise on efforts to secure such a trial. 

The event, organised with support of the charity Solving Kids’ Cancer UK, was taking place this afternoon. 

Both MPs have constituents whose children have battled high-risk neuroblastoma and have been forced to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to pay for treatments currently only available in the United States. 

Shirley Hepworth and Claire Scott were due to attend the meeting in Parliament to share their experiences as mothers of children with neuroblastoma, which accounts for 10 per cent of deaths in the UK from childhood cancer.

Ms Leadbeater said: “Parents like Shirley in my constituency have done amazing work with strong community support to raise the huge sums needed to send children like her brave daughter Beau to America for treatment.

"A UK-led trial would save other families from the burden of having to fundraise and allow them to concentrate on looking after their kids at home. I look forward to discussing what needs to be done to bring this about as soon as possible.” 

Gail Jackson, CEO of Solving Kids’ Cancer UK said: “Government funding support for this type of UK initiative will greatly accelerate progress, guarantee trial delivery, and ensure UK children with cancer and UK academic research institutions are at the very forefront of international developments.

"Most impactfully of all, if the vaccine is shown to be effective, it could save the lives of many children with neuroblastoma who would otherwise die.”