25-year-old Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn, diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours two years ago, has appealed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham to increase funding for brain cancer research. Goodburn is advocating for a national brain cancer lead and more resources to make clinical trials available in the UK that could change lives. The Rare Cancers Bill, led by Scott Arthur MP, aims to incentivize research into rare cancers, but Goodburn says it doesn't go far enough to address brain cancer specifically. He argues that the bill's allocation of 36 days a year for two part-time roles is insufficient to make significant changes in treatment.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The article uses phrases such as 'Andy Burnham, if you believe...please listen to us' which may be seen as a gentle nudge towards the Prime Minister's actions, but is otherwise framed in a way that emphasizes Goodburn's personal plea rather than making a strong political statement. The only slightly notable choice is the use of 'unbearable' and 'injustice', which have slightly emotive connotations, but do not seem to be used with a clear ideological agenda.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 269 · logged 2026-08-04
Tears rolled down Archie Goodburn's face as he implored Prime Minister Andy Burnham to invest more money and resources into brain cancer research.
asserted
he → roll → research
The Scottish swimmer was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours just over two years ago and has since passionately advocated for an increased focus on the disease.
asserted
swimmer → diagnose → disease
"One of my dreams is that we see a future where brain cancer isn't the biggest killer of patients under 40," Goodburn said during the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
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Goodburn → see → Glasgow
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the 25-year-old made a direct appeal to Downing Street to help ease the "unbearable" suffering of brain cancer patients and their families.
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old → speak → patients
"Andy Burnham, if you believe and want to make a change and a difference to the future of our country and our young population, please listen to us," Goodburn said.
asserted
Goodburn → believe → us
"Please establish a national brain cancer lead and give us a chance to fight for our lives because the things that patients are going through out there are unbelievable and so unjust.
"
asserted
patients → establish → that
There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives.
uncertain
that → be → lives
We are not seeing them in the UK and it is unfair and unjust.
asserted
it → see → UK
I'm on my knees begging for - not just my own life - but for those of my best friends and those that are affected and the families around the country.
"
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that → beg → country
This has to change.
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This → have → ?
It's been going for too long and the suffering is unbearable."
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suffering → go → ?
The Rare Cancers Bill - led by Scott Arthur MP - became law earlier this year.
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Bill → lead → Arthur
It aims to incentivise research and investment into the treatment of rare types of cancer, but Goodburn says it does not go far enough.
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it → aim → cancer
"It's a step in the right direction but it's not going to make the changes that we need," he said.
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he → go → that
"I'm extremely grateful for Dr Scott Arthur and the work he's done there.
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he → do → Arthur
"The rare cancers bill covers 14 different types of rare cancers.
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bill → cover → cancers
Brain cancer is one of these in terms of incidents of diagnosis, but it's not the same in terms of the number of deaths it causes.
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it → cause → deaths
This frustrates me immensely.
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This → frustrate → me
The rare cancers bill establishes two new positions: a clinical lead and a research lead.
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bill → establish → positions
These two roles are part-time across 14 different types of cancers and they accumulate to 36 days a year.
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they → accumulate → days
"I do not see how 36 days a year is going to make that change for 14 different types of cancers, let alone the most deadly type of cancer."
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days → see → cancer
'There's only really one way to go and that's to go and fight'
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow were a huge driving force for Goodburn, amid the emotional turmoil of the past two years, and he completed his goal of reaching the 50m breaststroke final.
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he → be → breaststroke
He missed out on the medal he craved, but even after that disappointment he was able to eloquently and passionately advocate for increased brain cancer research.
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he → miss → research
Few athletes - if any - at the Games got a bigger ovation than Goodburn and he says it was a privilege to compete in front of a home crowd.
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it → get → crowd
"It was an honour to compete in front of such a fantastic and supportive home crowd," he said, reflecting on the Games and his post-race interviews.
"To see the support off the back of those interviews has been really, really touching and inspiring.
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see → compete → interviews
"In that moment I was speaking about what felt important to me and the crowd were very supportive of my journey, and it only felt right to address that when I got out the pool.
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I → speak → pool
"What I do in the pool is only possible because of the medical advances that have been made and the campaign that's been done by the whole community.
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that → make → community
It was really a chance to give back and make sure that momentum keeps going.
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keeps → give → ?
And he insists he will continue to fight the disease and try to make a difference for other patients.
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he → insist → patients
"I partly feel like why we hear so much about brain cancer and why the awareness is so poor is because patients unfortunately die so quickly," he said.
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he → feel → cancer
"I have this prognosis which is slightly longer and it's given me this time to advocate - it's two years since I was diagnosed.
"
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I → have → time
I think when you're really backed up against a wall like that there's only really one way to go and that's to go and fight."
asserted
that → think → that
Tears rolled down Archie Goodburn's face as he implored Prime Minister Andy Burnham to invest more money and resources into brain cancer research.
asserted
he → roll → research
The Scottish swimmer was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours just over two years ago and has since passionately advocated for an increased focus on the disease.
asserted
swimmer → diagnose → disease
"One of my dreams is that we see a future where brain cancer isn't the biggest killer of patients under 40," Goodburn said during the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
asserted
Goodburn → see → Glasgow
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the 25-year-old made a direct appeal to Downing Street to help ease the "unbearable" suffering of brain cancer patients and their families.
asserted
old → speak → patients
"Andy Burnham, if you believe and want to make a change and a difference to the future of our country and our young population, please listen to us," Goodburn said.
asserted
Goodburn → believe → us
"Please establish a national brain cancer lead and give us a chance to fight for our lives because the things that patients are going through out there are unbelievable and so unjust.
"
asserted
patients → establish → that
There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives.
uncertain
that → be → lives
We are not seeing them in the UK and it is unfair and unjust.
asserted
it → see → UK
…and 24 more, not listed.
