A FAMILY who lost their unborn child in a car crash have expressed their disappointment at the Prime Minister's response to calls for a change in the law.

Jackie and Tom Luxon had their lives completely turned upside down after a serious crash last year left Jackie and her three-year-old daughter with life-changing injuries.

Since the crash the couple have been campaigning to introduce Grace's Law so people who cause death or injuries to a baby over the 24 weeks gestation period to babies can be prosecuted under the 1988 Road Traffic Act, which would bring the law in line with those for abortion.

Burnham-on-Sea MP James Heappey raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQ's) on Wednesday (May 22) and asked Prime Minister Theresa May if she would look again at the Road Traffic Act.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Heappey said: "My constituents, Tom and Jackie Luxon and their daughter were involved in a car crash that was the fault of a man who police found to have been driving dangerously for 16 miles before the impact.

"Jackie was 26 weeks pregnant at the time of the crash and the baby was stillborn as a result.

"However, only the injuries caused to Mrs Luxon and their older daughter were relevant when charging and subsequently sentencing the driver. "The baby, who the Luxons named Grace, got no justice at all.

"I understand from the police and stillbirth support groups that the Luxon’s tragic experience is sadly far from unique."

In response to Mr Heappey the Prime Minister said: "I know that all members from across this house and I will be obviously in response to my honourable friend's (Mr Heappey) question, will want to join in sending my deepest sympathies to his constituent.

"As Mr Heappey will know, the courts can already and do consider harm caused to an unborn child in sentencing for an offence and I know my honourable friend has discussed changing the law on this particular issue with The Ministry of Justice.

"They are concerned that there could be far reaching, unintended consequences doing so but I have asked them to keep the law under review.

"I know Mr Heappey along with others in this house will be continuing to work on this issue.

"I'm sure everybody recognises the compassion my honourable friend is showing in raising this issue. What we want to ensure is that what he is proposing is not something that could lead to other unintended consequences of the sort that he would not wish to see."

Speaking after PMQ's Tom Luxon, said the couple are pleased Grace's Law has been raised in the House of Commons but they were disappointed with the Prime Minister's response. 

He said: "It is a shame however that the prime ministers response was factually incorrect as no consideration is made to mother and unborn child in sentencing as there is currently no charge to sentence against.

"We know this as the CPS worked tirelessly to find a way to bring about a charge against Wells for Grace's death.

"In terms of far reaching and unintended consequences to be avoided, this is exactly why we have chosen to request this matter be considered for unborn babies post 24 weeks gestation so that it does not conflict with UK abortion rights.

"These abortion rights are already protected in the Infant Life Preservation Act, this same act also caters for ‘Child Destruction’ charges whereby life imprisonment can be imposed for the death of an unborn baby.

"The principals of what we are asking for already exist, we are asking for consistency by requesting this logic to also be applied to the Road Traffic Act to cater for those causing the death of an unborn baby through dangerous driving."

Mr Heappey said he understood Theresa May's concerns but would continue pushing for Grace's Law.

“I absolutely understand the concern over unintended consequences raised by the Prime Minister and I certainly do not want this very necessary law change to get caught up in a wider debate about abortion," Mr Heappey said.

"The Luxon’s legal team, stillbirth charities and I believe that this can be done and will continue to work towards it.”

The Luxon's have started a petition calling for Grace's Law which you can sign by visiting: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/259952?fbclid=IwAR0VPv2tLkAic5eS2aT3_p6cGbG9ee0IlCkm47ZTGiE473e_M9TgzDu29Ws