On Monday 10th July 2023, asbestos victims and anti-asbestos campaigners from around the country met in London to promote our Cape Must Pay! campaign.

We are calling on Cape, a former asbestos manufacturer now owned by Altrad, to donate £10 million to mesothelioma research. Documents obtained after a lengthy court battle show that Cape hid the true dangers of its products in the 60s and 70s. Mesothelioma is an under-researched cancer caused by asbestos.

We met in Barking. Cape had a huge asbestos factory in here from 1913 to 1968. Barking & Dagenham now have some of the worst rates of mesothelioma in the UK.

There were powerful speeches by Rob Rayner of the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK, Shelly Asquith of the Trades Union Congress, Jodie Bull of London Asbestos Support Awareness Group, and Harminder Bains of Leigh Day solicitors. Afterwards, wreaths were laid at the memorial to asbestos victims in Barking Town Square, and a minute’s silence was held.

We then headed to Parliament. Sympathetic MPs and Lords came to meet to show their support for our campaign. A huge thanks to Lord Hendy, Ian Lavery MP, Richard Burgon MP, Kate Osborne MP, and Andy McDonald MP.

As we headed home, our spirits were lifted even further by the news that four more MPs had signed Early Day Motion 93 (tabled 23rd May 2023) that same day. Big thanks to Charlotte Nichols MP, Stewart McDonald MP, Margaret Ferrier MP, and Allan Dorans MP. 36 MPs have now signed the Motion.

For more information on the campaign and what you can do to support it, click here.

Photos below: