Cancer-stricken ex-minister is breaking off his chemo to come to Parliament and vote in vital Brexit bill debate
A CANCER-STRICKEN former minister is breaking off his chemotherapy to come to Parliament and vote in the vital Brexit bill debate tonight.
Nick Boles said he was coming out of hospital to back the Government's legislation so Theresa May can trigger Article 50 despite feeling "pretty grim".
The MP for Grantham and Stamford has been off sick since October last year when he revealed doctors had found a cancerous tumour in his head.
But Mr Boles will be in Parliament to vote on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill on Tuesday despite having spent the last week receiving his third round of chemotherapy.
It contrasts with Labour MP Diane Abbott, who was criticised after missing last week's crucial votes after apparently coming down with a "migraine".
This was despite the fact she was seen debating vigorously in Parliament just two hours beforehand, leading to accusations she had "bottled" the vital ballot.
Her own Labour colleagues have called for her to be disciplined by leader Jeremy Corbyn after it was revealed two other backbenchers made it into the Commons to vote despite suffering from serious forms of cancer.
Ex-business minister Mr Boles posted the news of his return on his Twitter account along with a picture of him wearing a blue medical face mask while sat in a wheelchair.
And the 51-year-old published a statement on Facebook outlining his decision, saying: "Today, on my own initiative, I am coming out of hospital to support the Government on the Article 50 bill.
"I have spent the last week receiving my third round of chemotherapy for the cancer that was discovered last October.
RELATED STORIES:
"I feel pretty grim and will have to go back to hospital after I have voted.
"But I want to come to Parliament to represent my constituents on this important bill and do my bit to ensure that it is passed without amendment."
Mr Boles, who beat cancer a decade ago, told his Twitter followers in October that doctors at King’s College Hospital A&E found the cancerous tumour, before joking people “might think that explains a lot about my recent behaviour”.
He added that he had fought cancer off once “and I am sure I can do it again”, and Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn united at PMQs to praise his courage.
Mr Corbyn said: “I just want to pay tribute to Mr Boles for the social media message he sent out this morning.
“It shows amazing humour and bravery and we wish him all the very best and hope he fully recovers from this.”
And Mrs May said: “Can I also join you in commending my honourable friend for being willing to be so open about the health problem that he has, and we wish him all the very best for the future and for his place here in this House.”