Tom Clarke

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

British politician Sir Thomas Clarke or Sir Tom Clarke, was a member of UK parliament for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill from 1982 to 2015.

ME/CFS[edit | edit source]

Tom Clarke suffered from myalgic encephalomyelitis for 20 months, beginning in 1992, and fully recovered.[1][2][3]

ME is an unfashionable cause—some people go as far as to say that there is no such thing. They claim that if it exists at all, it is a mild illness that only the middle class can get—it is all in the mind. People are told to pull themselves together, get a grip and face reality. We now know what reality is. ME does exist. — Tom Clarke, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome debate - UK Parliament, February 2002

Parliamentary advocacy[edit | edit source]

Tom Clarke spoke in support of better recognition of myalgic encephalomyelitis in patients, and propee treatment provision in the UK. He attended meetings of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis prior to losing his seat in parliament in 2015.[4]

Knighthood[edit | edit source]

Sir Tom Clarke was knighted in 2021 for "public and political service".[5]


Talks and interviews[edit | edit source]

News[edit | edit source]

Online presence[edit | edit source]

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Website/Blog
  • YouTube

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Tom Clarke, former MP, Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill - TheyWorkForYou". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  2. "MPs call for action on ME". BBC News | Health. May 12, 1999. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  3. "Westminster Hall - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome debate - February 2002". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  4. "All Party Parliamentary Group on ME". ME Research UK. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  5. "Former MP Tom Clarke is knighted". Glasgow World. January 7, 2021.