The spotlight was on Peter Aldous, MP for Waveney, at last week’s Conservative Party conference in Manchester, as he took part in the ‘Can you beat the MS lottery’ challenge.

The interactive challenge, which was designed by the MS Society, tests politicians’ knowledge of multiple sclerosis (MS) by asking them to match numbered lottery balls to a range of statements. MPs are called upon to guess on everything from the UK’s ranking amongst EU countries for access to MS treatments to how much money local councils are cutting from care budgets.

Laura Weir, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the MS Society, explained: “With changes currently being made to the NHS and welfare benefits, there has never been a more important time to make politicians aware of the difficulties facing people with MS across the country in obtaining the drugs, specialist care and welfare support they need. This is what we are aiming to do with our MS lottery challenge.”

Mr Aldous is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for MS, a group of MPs and peers dedicated to raising awareness of MS issues in parliament, and an active supporter of the Waveney Shims local MS group.

He said: “People with MS face a lottery on a daily basis when it comes to accessing treatments, care and welfare support. I will continue to work with the MS Society to ensure that people affected by MS in Waveney receive the treatments and support they need.”

For more information on MS and the support available to those affected by the condition visit the MS Society’s website: www.mssociety.org.uk.