Government fail to confirm timetable for new laws, ignoring MPs and campaigners

Liz McInnes MP

In response to a letter from more than 70 MPs, the government have yet again failed to confirm when they will introduce tougher sentences for those who cause death by dangerous driving.

Following a number of high profile cases and pressure from the families of victims, campaigners, and MPs, in October last year the government announced it intended to introduce tougher sentences. However, nine months later no legislation has yet been brought forward.

Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton Liz McInnes and more than 70 other MPs wrote to the Justice Secretary last month to ask when the government would take the action it promised.

Liz McInnes said: “Those of us who’ve fought for a change in the law were delighted last October when the government announced it intended to toughen the sentences for causing death by dangerous driving, so that the punishment better reflects the serious nature of the crime. Since then I’ve raised this issue many times with Ministers and each time I’m told it will be introduced ‘as soon as parliamentary time allows’.

"I hoped that a letter signed by more than 70 MPs from various parties might prompt a different and more positive response, but I’m sorry to read the same tired lines from Ministers. The government are continuing to use lack of parliamentary time as an excuse, but just this week they proposed starting the summer recess early and cancelling next week’s business. If whatever is on the parliamentary agenda next week is so unimportant that it can be scrapped, then why not use that time instead to introduce this important legislation which was promised nine months ago?

"Since last October other families are joining the many already suffering the double injustice of losing a loved one and having their killer receive a derisory sentence. For example, earlier this year the killer of six and two year oldd Corey and Casper Platt-May in Coventry was sentenced to just nine years in prison. If the government had acted more quickly the killer could be serving a more fitting sentence.

"How many more families must be made to suffer in this way before the government take action?”

A spokesperson for the road safety charity Brake said: “This response is cold comfort for families across the country who have lost loved ones on our roads and seen the killers escape with far too lenient sentences. More than nine months on from the government announcement it is clear that no progress has been made and this is simply unacceptable. The government must act now and deliver justice for road crash victims.”