Local MP supports the need for Hugh’s Law

October 16, 2025 6:19 pm

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The MP for Edinburgh South West has joined others to sign a letter to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle MP, urging the government to take decisive action in support of Hugh’s Law.

This is a proposed change in legislation which would provide parents of seriously ill children with support from day one, with immediate financial and job security with the right to paid leave without fear of losing their jobs.

The letter is backed by more than 150 MPs and members of the House of Lords, and it marks a significant moment in the campaign led by the charity It’s Never You. The charity handed in the letter to the government this week.

The letter welcomes the government’s recent announcement of a stand-alone consultation on support for families facing the challenge of caring for a seriously ill child. It also calls for greater clarity and commitment, including:
Co-production of the consultation’s terms with the It’s Never You campaign
A clear timeframe for the consultation process
A commitment to legislate for Hugh’s Law in the next King’s Speech
A roadmap for implementation of any resulting legislation

Hugh’s Law would introduce a non means-tested benefit for parents of seriously ill children. This would fill a critical gap in the current welfare system. While support exists for new parents through maternity and paternity leave, there is no bespoke provision for families whose children have long-term or life-threatening childhood illness – except for the limited Neonatal Care Act, which applies only in a child’s earliest days.

As the letter states, the welfare system “should respond not to the timing of illness, but to the reality of need”. And it adds: “The campaign for Hugh’s Law goes to the heart of what our welfare state must provide: a safety net people can rely on in moments of crisis.”

Edinburgh South West MP, Dr Scott Arthur, said: “Working on the Rare Cancers Bill has exposed me to many parents with seriously ill children, and it’s clear that they strongly support Hugh’s Law. This campaign is about dignity and essential support for families facing situations you hope never to experience yourself. No parent in should have to worry about their finances when their child is fighting for their life; they deserve a welfare system that shows compassion when it matters most.”

Chris Hinchliff MP who organised the letter said: “Hugh’s Law is about compassion, dignity, and fairness. No parent should be forced to choose between financial survival and being at their child’s bedside. Our welfare system must respond to moments of crisis with immediate, unconditional support.The government’s consultation is a welcome step, but we must get the details right and implement Hugh’s Law as soon as realistically possible.”

Ceri Menai-Davies, Co-Founder of the charity It’s Never You, said: “I’m incredibly moved by the support we’ve received, over 150 MPs and Peers have now joined us in calling for change and for consultation into Hugh’s law to be acted upon and to be legislated upon. To see that level of compassion and unity gives me real hope. This letter represents more than signatures, it represents a shared belief that parents of seriously ill children deserve better. I’m proud of how far we’ve come and this is only the beginning.”

The campaign has gained widespread public and parliamentary support, with MPs from across the political spectrum joining the call for urgent reform. Hugh’s Law is named after Hugh Menai-Davis who died from a rare cancer aged just six.