Rob Burrow: Government has ‘blood on its hands’ over £50m MND research delay

Rob Burrow says the Government has “blood on its hands” over the delay in delivering on a promise to provide £50million towards efforts to find a cure for motor neurone disease.

The former Leeds and Great Britain player, 39, has become a leading light in the campaign to raise awareness of MND, having been diagnosed with the terminal illness in December 2019.

The Government pledged last November to make £50m available to the Motor Neurone Disease Association as part of a £375m investment into neurodegenerative disease research but, eight months on, scientists have yet to see the money, leaving Burrow frustrated and angry.

“I have 100 things to say to this Government but I will keep it to one,” Burrow told the PA news agency.

“People with MND don’t have the luxury of time to wait. It is as if there is no rush to give our scientific researchers the opportunity to join the race to find an effective treatment while six people die each day from motor neurone disease.

“There is blood on your hands, this Government and the civil servants, with the red tape you are putting up.”

Burrow’s stance is supported by his wife and full-time carer Lindsey, who said: “I am hopeful that one day a cure will be found but we need the UK Government to support people with MND and provide more funding for research into the disease.

A third of people with MND die within a year of diagnosis and don’t have time to wait.- Lindsey Burrow

“In September 2021, the Prime Minister and Health Secretary pledged £50m for research but no money has been received by the MND researchers yet.

“A third of people with MND die within a year of diagnosis and don’t have time to wait.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told PA: “We have invested