MP’s brave and moving speech

Apart from all the wrong reasons, speeches in the House of Commons rarely bring a tear to the eye.

Usually MPs are too busy toeing the party line or scoring points off their opponents to lay bare their emotions.

So it was heartwarming and refreshing to hear Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson’s recent speech in the chamber.

Sharon was taking part in a debate on the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill, which includes introducing formal recording for a stillborn child born before 24 weeks’ gestation and giving coroners the power to investigate latestage stillbirths.

It’s a matter close to her heart, for she revealed she is one of the many parents who have suffered the heartbreak of giving birth to a stillborn baby before 24 weeks.

She moved the House of Commons to tears after recalling her stillborn baby “officially did not exist” – despite knowing her heart was beating during the labour.

Her voice cracked with emotion and she had to stop several times as she explained what happened to her third baby Lucy.

She said Lucy would have no birthday parties and, to her “horror”, no birth or death certificate after she was stillborn at 23.5 weeks.

“She just couldn’t make the final push into this world. Because of that and because of a matter of a few days, she doesn’t officially exist in any records other than in our memories and own family records,” said Ms Hodgson

The MP said she wanted to make the speech to support changes to the law – despite knowing she would “end up in floods of tears”.

We applaud Ms Hodgson for her brave words on what must still be a painful subject and for bringing a very human touch to the world of politics.