The move came after the Prime Minister and health secretary, Yvette Cooper, met with Archie Goodburn, the 25-year-old swimmer with inoperable brain cancer, following his  emotional plea to the Government on BBC Breakfast.

Burnham said: ‘Archie is an inspiration to us all, and I am determined to deliver the change patients and their families deserve.

‘He has spoken passionately about the need for change on brain cancer, and he's right: progress hasn't been good enough, here or anywhere else. Families facing this disease can't afford to wait.

‘That is why today we're committing to appoint a dedicated national lead and setting out how we'll get new treatments to patients faster. I strongly support this work and was delighted to welcome Archie to Downing Street to discuss it with him in person.'

The four steps are:

• an immediate expert review, led by Professor Anthony Chalmers, chair of the Brain Tumour Group within the UK Collaborative for Cancer Clinical Research, reporting within three months
• a national action plan to follow
• a new national brain cancer clinical lead to drive this work forward, appointed by the Department of Health and Social Care
• the MHRA to complete its review of the rules for medicines that treat rare conditions - known as orphan drugs - in two years rather than three.

In addition, the health secretary will host a roundtable with researchers, clinicians and charities to find new ways to boost participation.

Next year, the Department of Health and Social Care will partner with Cancer Research UK to bring together global experts and promote Britain as a world leader in cutting-edge brain cancer study.