CLIVE Stone is right to be appalled by the Government’s decision to scrap funding for certain cancer drugs.

While Mr Stone might breathe a sigh of relief that those still available include Axitinib, a kidney cancer drug he himself takes having battled cancer, he has not let that diminish his desire to see others get the treatment they deserve.

Increasing the funding for other drugs may look to soften the blow, but for those whose drugs have had funding cut, it offers little solace.

It cannot be right that lives depend upon the views of Government bean counters. Campaigners such as Mr Stone should be applauded for resisting that.