Understand
Penistone mother says she has 'kept promise' to killed sons as parental contact law changes
Overview
Claire Throssell, a mother from Penistone whose two sons were killed by their father in a house fire in 2014, has campaigned for 12 years to change the 'presumption of parental involvement' in family law. Following a vote in the Commons passing the Courts and Tribunals Bill by 301 votes to 193, the proposed legislation will remove this presumption from the Children Act, moving it to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
Key points
- Claire Throssell's sons, Jack (12) and Paul (9), were killed in October 2014 by their father in a house fire after he was granted weekly access.
- Throssell has campaigned for 12 years to remove the 'presumption of parental involvement' from family law.
- The Courts and Tribunals Bill passed in the Commons by 301 votes to 193, moving it to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
- The legislative change aims to ensure a child's safety and well-being are prioritized ahead of assuming contact with both parents is beneficial.