- Lord Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader, has announced he is taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords following the recurrence of his prostate cancer.
- He was initially diagnosed with non-aggressive prostate cancer in March 2023 and later received the all-clear, but was informed earlier this year that the disease had returned.
- While initial tests suggest the cancer has now “gone”, Lord Watson is scheduled to undergo further checks later this summer for confirmation.
- He described the recurrence as a “wake-up call” to prioritise his health, having also struggled with regaining weight after ceasing exercise following his initial diagnosis.
- His announcement comes as the government recently advised against a population-wide prostate cancer screening programme, instead recommending testing for a smaller group of high-risk men.
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