JULIE Cooper, Burnley and Padiham's MP, signed the Trade Union Congress 'Dying to Work' charter, to support and protect employees who become terminally ill.

Since its launch in April 2016 the charter now protects over half a million employees with companies such as Legal and General, Santander, Co-Op, Carillion, Rolls Royce, Bombardier, Weetabix and the Royal Mail joining E.On and signing up along with a number of public sector bodies including NHS trusts, police authorities and many local authorities.

Mrs Cooper, said: “It is shocking to think that if people with terminal illnesses are dismissed or forced out of their jobs that their loved ones will lose the death in service payments that the employee has planned for and earned through a life-time of hard work.

"That is why I am proud to have signed the TUC ‘Dying to Work’ charter to protect my employees and I will be encouraging businesses in my constituency to follow suit and sign up to this voluntary charter."