A move by an SNP MP to introduce paid miscarriage leave for women who lose their babies before 24 weeks has gained the support of 25,000 people.
Angela Crawley delivered a petition to Downing Street with more than 25,000 names ahead of the second reading of her private members’ bill on Friday.
The Miscarriage Leave Bill seeks to introduce three days of statutory paid leave for parents who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
The Lanark and Hamilton East MP said: “The support our campaign has received from the public and from MPs across the UK has been overwhelming. "
Crawley added: “Miscarriage can be an extremely traumatic experience, with many parents going through this heartache without any government support and the stigma associated with miscarriage often stopping thousands of parents seeking the help and support they deserve. "
Last month, 53 MPs from nine political parties and independents backed a cross-party letter to the Prime Minister urging the UK Government to support the campaign.
One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, however, under current UK legislation, workers are only entitled to paid bereavement leave following a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Crawley added: “MPs from across the house have backed the campaign which shows there is a clear consensus at Westminster that parents who experience a miscarriage should be entitled to paid leave so that they can grieve their loss.
“Already, 21,000 people – with more adding their names every hour – have signed the petition, demonstrating that the feeling across the country is the same as it is in Parliament.
Crawley added: “The only thing standing in the way of fair support for grieving parents and finally ending the stigma associated with miscarriage is the UK Government and on Friday they will have the chance to change that by backing my bill.”
To progress Private Members Bills must complete their second reading in the Commons without being talked out and then find time in the parliamentary calendar.
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