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Campaigning parents welcome progress on Hugh's Law

Martin HeathHertfordshire political reporter
News imageThe Menai-Davis family Frances and Ceri Menai-Davis standing side by side on a pavement directly in front of the black front door of a formal building. The door has a polished finish and features a brass letter slot and a lion-head door knocker at the centre. Above the door, the number “10” is clearly visible, indicating the entrance to 10 Downing Street in London. The doorway is framed by light stone columns,The Menai-Davis family
The Hugh's Law campaign has taken parents Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis to 10 Downing Street

The parents of a six-year-old boy who died of cancer have welcomed signs that more financial help could be provided for relatives of seriously ill children.

Frances and Ceri Menai-Davis, from Hertford, have been campaigning for Hugh's Law since their son, Hugh, died in 2021.

The law would provide paid leave for carers and guarantee job security.

The government has launched a consultation on the plans.

After their son's death, Frances Menai-Davis said she realised that, while there was financial support for expectant and nursing mothers, help for parents of seriously ill children was limited.

She said: "When I was pregnant, I feel there were all these rights afforded to me, and you see other women afforded rights as well with maternity leave, maternity pay, job security and protection.

"Yet, if you find yourself in this terrible position where your child is sick, you will find that there is nothing and it's fundamentally wrong."

Her husband Ceri added: "There's no specific right that allows the parents to legally be by the bedside of the child in hospital.

"If you're a parent with a child, there is nowhere else you are going to be other than their bedside."

News imageThe Menai-Davis family Hugh Menai-Davis sits cross‑legged on a large, flat rock outdoors, wearing a black long‑sleeved top with a yellow Batman logo, matching dark trousers, and yellow Wellington boots. The surrounding area is grassy with sparse vegetation and patches of soil, suggesting a park or rural setting. The child faces slightly to one side with hands resting together in their lap. Natural daylight illuminates the scene, and the background is softly blurred.The Menai-Davis family
Hugh Menai-Davis died of cancer, aged just six

The couple's charity, It's Never You, has called for employers to pay carers - who cannot work because they are looking after children - at least three months' salary.

They also want legal protection so parents can return to their jobs after their child's treatment or death.

News imageStephen Kinnock in a blue suit and tie stands indoors, slightly turned to one side, with a small microphone clipped to the jacket. The setting appears to be a community or classroom space, with light‑coloured walls and a doorway behind them leading to another room containing shelves, children’s items, and a high‑visibility jacket hanging on the wall.
Care minister Stephen Kinnock said unpaid carers must not be left behind

The government's consultation into new rights for parents and carers of seriously ill children specifically mentions Hugh's Law as a possible approach, although it does not make a detailed proposal.

Frances Menai-Davis said the consultation was encouraging, adding that her charity had received many messages from parents struggling without financial security or job protection.

Care minister Stephen Kinnock said: "We must make sure unpaid carers are not left behind or forgotten and our reforms will help provide the support careers need, while making sure they are not compromising their work or careers."

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