Chippenham MP Sarah Gibson has stepped up her campaign for justice and recognition for families affected by the historic practice of burying stillborn babies in unmarked mass graves - an issue that has left thousands of parents without a place to grieve.
Mrs Gibson, whose constituency includes Calne, Corsham, Lyneham and Royal Wootton Bassett, has written a cross-party letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, urging the Government to meet with bereaved families and to formally acknowledge the harm caused by the practice, which continued into the late 1980s.
The letter, signed by 49 MPs from across the political spectrum, calls on ministers to:
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Preserve and make burial records accessible to affected families.
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Nationally recognise and apologise for the practice and its impact.
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Support local authorities to identify sites and install modest memorials, such as plaques or stones.
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Work with bereavement charities and communities to support those affected.
It is estimated that around 89,000 stillborn babies were buried in unmarked communal graves across the UK. Families were often not told where their babies had been buried or given the chance to attend the burial.
Mrs Gibson, who has been working closely with Calne resident John Murphy, said the campaign was about ensuring that families finally receive the recognition and compassion they deserve.
“This is an issue that goes beyond party lines,” she said. “It is wonderful to have the support of so many colleagues — I just hope the Government really listen and act. Despite promising families like my constituent a meeting months ago, this has not yet happened.”
“Families like John’s, up and down the country, are asking for a simple acknowledgement — to be seen, to be heard, to have a place to grieve and to feel supported.”
The cross-party letter follows the Baby Loss Debate in Parliament on 13th October, during which MPs from all parties shared testimonies from affected families and called for national recognition of the issue.
Campaigners are now hoping that the Health Secretary will agree to meet with families and commit Government support to preserving burial records and creating memorial sites across the UK.
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