Ian Lucas MP – Thank You!

All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are cross-party groups run by, and for, Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords.  They’re an important mechanism to support the work carried out in Westminster and can help to facilitate MPs and Peers working with organisations from outside Parliament.  The ‘APPG on Spinal Cord Injury’ (APPG on SCI) was formed in 2008, with SIA holding the Secretariat and Ian Lucas MP elected as its first Chair.

Under Ian’s leadership, the APPG on SCI has looked in detail at the specific issues being faced by SCI people (for example medical treatment and the availability of specialist care and support) as well as social care and wider issues that affect the lives of SCI people.  This has helped keep the needs of SCI people as high as possible on the Parliamentary agenda, and ensured that his fellow MP’s remain well-briefed about issues that may impact on their constituents with a SCI.

Sadly, following the announcement of the General Election, Ian has confirmed that he’s not going to be seeking re-election to Parliament and for personal and family reasons is standing down as MP for Wrexham. In his resignation letter, he said “I am 60 next year, I have been an MP since I was 40.  I think the time is right for me to choose to follow a different path in the years to come.”

SIA would like to offer huge thanks to Ian for his commitment to the needs of SCI people and his excellent work as Chair of the APPG for SCI for the last 11 years.  He has made a significant difference to the awareness and understanding of SCI in Westminster, and we wish him every success for the future.