MPs and charities are calling on the government to inject millions of pounds in financial fines levied on firms into the “struggling hospice sector”.

They want the first £100m of annual Financial Conduct Authority fines to be allocated directly to the sector in March every year from 2026.

In addition, “an immediate release” of £75m from the fines money should be handed to hospices, with a further £75m released to the sector by April 2025.

The call has been launched by energy focused community interest company Box Power and backed by more than 40 MPs and 30 hospices.

They have signed a petition, that has also been backed by 36,000 people calling for the funding from the fines to target the hospice sector.

This coincides with heightened discussion about palliative care during last week’s debate in the House of Commons around assisted dying legislation, which was backed by MPs.

The petition is being delivered to Downing Street this month.

MPs backing the move include Labour’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and MP for Bolton West Phil Brickell, Conservatives Danny Kruger and Iain Duncan Smith, as well as Reform’s Nigel Farage.

Also backing the cash injection for hospices is Stuart Andrew, who was charities minister in the previous Conservative government.

"I worked in hospices for 16 years, so I am well aware of the challenges the sector faces and always happy to lend my support to the cause,” said Andrew.

Brickell added: “Hospices, including Bolton Hospice who I have and will continue to support throughout my time as MP, provide absolutely vital support to those in need.”

Hospices backing the move include Birmingham Hospice, North Devon Hospice, and St Christopher’s and St David’s Hospice in North Wales.

In a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in support of the petition, Box Power’s chief executive Corin Dalby and chief operating officer Tricia Dalby warn that “end of life care is in crisis”.

Their letter adds: “Across the country, hospices face multiple cutbacks and job losses, which are taking a devastating toll on their ability to serve the most vulnerable”.

They say the FCA fines, which are “levied for injustices affecting UK citizens, could not be put to better use than supporting hospices in their vital missions”.

In July a survey of almost 100 hospice charities revealed that more than one in five have made cuts to their services over the last year or were planning to do so. This was carried out by umbrella body Hospice UK.

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