High Peak Liberal Democrats

Change the Law for Life campaign

Sir Vince Cable: Nearly 500 people died last year waiting for donors ... that's why I am backing Mirror's campaign

Lib Dem leader says the party are backing our Change the Law for Life to make giving organs an opt-out system

" Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable has thrown his weight behind the Mirror campaign to change the law on organ donation .

And following our revelation that almost 500 Brits died last year while waiting for transplants, he insisted: "It's clear that we desperately need a new approach.

Now Sir Vince has confirmed it is official Lib Dem policy to back our bid to Change the Law for Life .

He is "confident" boosting organ donors will help save desperately ill patients, such as the face of our campaign Max Johnson.

The brave nine-year-old, from Cheshire, needs a new heart. Only a mechanical pump fitted inside his tiny chest keeps him alive. For him, it is a race against time.

Sir Vince, 74, said: "There are around 6,500 people in the UK waiting for a transplant. I urge the Government to listen to this campaign and the calls of countless families across the country.

"We can ensure more lives and more children like little Max are saved. I'm proud to be a registered organ donor. I carry my card everywhere. It was an obvious choice."

Heart transplant hero Max Johnson who languished on waiting list for eight months says "biggest thank you" to donor

Our battle for an opt-out system has already won the support of thousands of Brits, doctors, patients and health campaigners.

The Mirror wants presumed consent, whereby organs become available for transplants unless people decide not to take part. We believe England and Northern Ireland should follow Wales with an opt-out donor system. Scotland already has plans to do so.

Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson has put forward a Private Members' Bill calling for a change to the law.

You can sign our petition at mirror.co.uk/lawforlife

• Display: Accessible
• Switch to: Desktop (requires cookies)

• My Account.
• Privacy Policy.
• Other Party Sites.