Speaking this afternoon, Davey will urge cancer scientists in the US who have had their research cancelled by the Trump administration to ‘come here and finish it in the UK' through a dedicated Cancer Research Fellowship Scheme.

Davey will also call for a boost to cancer research funding, a rebuilding of the National Cancer Research Institute, the passing of a Cancer Survival Research Act to enshrine in law funding for research into the deadliest cancers and investment in mRNA vaccine research.

The Lib Dem leader will say: ‘The United Kingdom, stepping into the vacuum left by Trump's anti-science agenda. Leading the world in the fight against cancer.

‘And giving patients real hope, with the treatment they need. Britain, delivering on the promise of the NHS. A caring country. A healthy country. A great country. That is the kind of country we want to be.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘This Government is committed to transforming cancer care following years of neglect. We are already making progress, with nearly 100,000 more people receiving a cancer diagnosis – or being given the all-clear – within 28 days between July 2024 and June 2025, compared to the same period the previous year.

‘We are also expanding community diagnostic centres to bring life-saving checks closer to home and investing £1.6bn a year in health research to unlock future treatments.'