Addressing Britain’s Asbestos Epidemic 2025
In the run-up to the UK’s annual day of asbestos remembrance – Action Mesothelioma Day – the latest national asbestos mortality data was released on July 2, 2025. The government update reported that:
- British mesothelioma mortality fell by ~3% from 2,280 deaths in 2022 to 2,218 in 2023;
- trends in incidence rates differed, with male deaths falling by 54 (from 1,856 (2022) to 1,802 (2023) and female deaths remaining fairly constant at 424 (2022) and 416 (2023);
- 70+% of deaths for both males and females occur in those over 75 years old;
- annual deaths in the 70+ cohort continue to increase while deaths below 65 are decreasing;
- the highest risk of mesothelioma was found in men who worked in the building industry before asbestos was banned.1
With the number of deaths from other asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) – including asbestosis, lung, ovarian and larynx cancer – added to those from mesothelioma, the total annual death toll, once again, exceeds 5,000, more than three times the number of road traffic fatalities and nearly eight times the number of murders which occur every year in the UK.2
Considering that much of the 6+ million tonnes of asbestos used during the 20th century remains in place, Britons will continue to contract these deadly diseases unless and until the hazard is eradicated. On June 18, 2025, MPs considered the subject of the “Removal of Asbestos from Non-Domestic Buildings” during a Westminster Hall Debate, which had been secured by Emma Lewell MP, representing South Shields. According to Ms Lewell:
“Asbestos-related disease is not only in our past and present; it will be in our future if we do not act… Even now, people are still shocked when they discover that, despite the 1999 ban, there is no national database or register and, as a result, the Government do not have a comprehensive picture of where asbestos is. Consequently, there is no strategic plan to have it safely removed… As we continue to push for net zero and retrofitting, it makes sense that we start to remove asbestos as soon as possible.”
Concluding the session, the Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education Sir Stephen Timms congratulated all the speakers and agreed that they had been:
“absolutely right to make the case for the goal of an asbestos-free Great Britain and a plan for asbestos to be removed across the country.”3
At AMD events up and down the country, many of which were held on Friday, July 4, 2025, speakers echoed the call for the asbestos hazard to be eradicated. At a rally in Manchester, a new resource documenting the asbestos hazard in local schools was referenced by Rob Rayner from the Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group (GMAVSG).4 The data collected as a result of Freedom of Information requests was shocking:
“asbestos is present in around 80.2% (304 out of 379) of local authority maintained schools in Greater Manchester. In 2013, figures obtained by the Manchester Evening News found that asbestos was present in around 86.6% (903 out of 1,043) state schools in Greater Manchester. A fall of 6.4% in the proportion of schools containing asbestos since 2013 is progress. However, at this rate, many schools in Greater Manchester will still contain asbestos 100 years from now. As our school buildings age, and reach the end of their intended lifespans, we urgently need to learn more about the risks to pupils and staff.”5
At AMD events in Wales, Scotland and England, mesothelioma researchers and charity organizers detailed progress being made in developing and delivering new treatment regimes and providing support for the injured. Funds raised on the day at several venues were ringfenced for medical research and the support of specialist mesothelioma nurses in regional asbestos hotspots. The photos below provide a flavor of the July 4th in-person events.
 Floral tributes at the July 4 AMD 2025 event held by Action on Asbestos in Provand’s Lordship Gardens, Glasgow. Picture courtesy of Action on Asbestos. |
 Beth Taylor, Mesothelioma UK Research Centre, speaking about the research conducted into asbestos in schools and hospitals. Picture courtesy of Greater Manchester Asbestos Victim Support Group. |
 Sophia Holden speaking about the role of the Mesothelioma Nurse Specialist. Picture courtesy of HASAG Asbestos Disease Support. |
 Lyndsey Haffenden, Mesothelioma UK Specialist for Wales. Picture courtesy of Asbestos Awareness and Support Cymru. |
 Surgeon Julius Asante-Siaw, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, at July 4, 2025 AMD event in Liverpool. Picture courtesy of the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group. Copyright Chris Ingram, Unionsafety. |
 Cream teas prepared by volunteers were a feature of the July 4 gathering of the Papworth Mesothelioma Social Group in Cambridgeshire. Picture courtesy of Papworth Mesothelioma Social Group facebook page. |
 Raffle at the AMD 2025 event in Plymouth by South West Asbestos Support & Awareness Group (SWASAG). Raffles are a popular feature of many AMD fund-raising events! Picture courtesy of SWASAG. |
Commenting on this year’s events Liz Darlison, CEO of Mesothelioma UK, said:
“The buzz created by AMD 2025 activities has surpassed anything we have seen before. Throughout the country and beyond, the turnout generated by events held by victims’ groups, charities, research groups, clinical teams and legal organizations was truly astonishing. From butterfly releases, to sponsored walks, church services, afternoon teas and information sessions, people gathered to honour those living with and remember those lost, not only to mesothelioma but to other asbestos-related diseases. Funds raised on the day will be put to good use by all the UK organizations supporting victims and undertaking research into new treatments and pioneering medical interventions.”
 Liz Darlison at the Mesothelioma UK stand at the Lung Cancer Nursing UK Conference in London, June, 2025. Picture courtesy of Mesothelioma UK. |
“These events are both uplifting and tragic at the same time: uplifting because of the positive energy they generate and the opportunities for those affected to join together as a community and tragic because of the sad reality that lies behind the statistics. AMD provides an opportunity for us all to rededicate ourselves to our common cause: an end to asbestos-related cancers and diseases.”6
It is noteworthy to report that some progress is being made to reduce the death toll. On June 30, 2025, the Welsh Government announced a that a national lung cancer screening program would be implemented “for current and former smokers aged 55-74.”7 People who smoked and were exposed to asbestos have a hugely elevated risk of contracting asbestos-related cancer; early diagnosis is essential to achieve the optimal outcome for those affected. Unfortunately, there are no lung cancer screening programs in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
It is also disappointing to report that no headway has been made in addressing the asbestos contamination of the Palace of Westminster, a national symbol and a World Heritage Site. The official line is that “asbestos is actively being managed” on the site but according to Lord Peter Hain: “the whole Palace of Westminster is infested with asbestos.”8 In the last ten years, there have been 1,000+ incidents of asbestos discovered in Parliament.
 Participants at Liverpool July 4, 2025 AMD event. Picture courtesy of the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group. Copyright Chris Ingram, Unionsafety (Enlarge image). |
Since the first Action Mesothelioma Day was held in 2006, it’s been calculated that more than 100,000 Britons have died from asbestos-related diseases. Each of those lost left behind loved ones, friends and colleagues. It is tragic to think of the many more lives which will be lost due to government intransigence, bureaucratic obstacles and lack of technical capacity.
July 15, 2025
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1 HSE. Latest annual work-related fatalities published. July 2, 2025.
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2025/07/02/latest-annual-work-related-fatalities-published/?utm_source=hse.gov.uk&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=hse-news&utm_id=news&utm_term=stats-release&utm_content=home-page-news
HSE. July 2025. Mesothelioma statistics for Great Britain, 2025. July 2025.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/mesothelioma.pdf
2 UK Government. Reported road casualties Great Britain, annual report: 2023. September 26, 2024.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-annual-report-2023/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-annual-report-2023
The number of UK murders reported in 2023 were: 583 in England and Wales, 57 in Scotland and 7 in Northern Ireland.
3 Hansard. Asbestos Removal: Non-domestic Buildings. June 18. 2025.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-06-18/debates/64452B48-07E1-4ACF-83B4-21BC1AE7A412/AsbestosRemovalNon-DomesticBuildings
4 Rayner, R. Action Mesothelioma Day! July 4, 2025.
https://gmavsg.org/action-mesothelioma-day-2025/
5 GMAVSG. Asbestos in Greater Manchester schools in 2025. June 24, 2025.
https://gmavsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Asbestos-in-Greater-Manchester-schools-2025.pdf
6 Email received July 8, 2025 from Liz Darlison.
Mesothelioma UK is a national charity which provides specialist mesothelioma nurses in hospitals across the UK.
https://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/
7 NHS Wales. National lung cancer screening programme for Wales will save lives, say health experts. June 30, 2025.
https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/National+lung+cancer+screening+programme+for+Wales+will+save+
lives+say+health+experts+30062025141500
8 Lester, N. Kicking restoration of Parliament down the road risks disaster, authorities told. June 25, 2025.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/parliament-notre-dame-mps-houses-of-parliament-commons-b1234902.html
Elgot, J. Fire could ‘burn down’ UK parliament and asbestos is rife, surveys show. March 16, 2025.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/16/fire-could-burn-down-parliament-and-asbestos-is-rife-surveys-show
