Men who kill their partners will automatically be stopped from having a say over the children’s lives from behind bars, Labour has vowed.
Shadow justice minister Ellie Reeves has pledged to pass “Jade’s Law” if the party wins power at the next election.
Last year 27-year-old Jade Ward was stabbed and strangled in her home by her ex-partner Russell Marsh as their four young sons slept.
Marsh must serve at least 25 years in prison, but under current laws killers need to be consulted on decisions affecting their children including schooling and medical treatment unless a court removes their parental responsibility.
Ms Reeves said: "In other words, he can continue to exercise the same controlling behaviour he submitted Jade to, but this time over her children and her family from his jail cell."
She added: "Ultimately Jade’s law will aid children who lose their mum to fatal domestic abuse to have the space to address and work through their trauma and be protected from further harm.
"It is about ensuring we protect children, put the rights of victims above those of perpetrators and work to end violence against women and girls. The next Labour government will make Jade’s Law a reality."
Her remarks came as a petition calling for Jade's Law was debated in Parliament today after a campaign by her family.
Responding to the petition in June ministers said that courts have the powers to remove "all parental powers and authority" in the most serious cases.
But they added the Government recognises that in situations where a parent is convicted of the murder of another parent the process can be "onerous".
'Labour will pass Jade's Law'
By Ellie Reeves, Shadow Justice Minister
"Jade Ward was a 27-year-old mum of 4 who was murdered by her ex-partner in 2021. At the time of her death, she had been moving forward with her life, having ended her relationship with Russell Marsh which had been characterised by his controlling behaviour.
"But Jade’s life came to a tragic end when Marsh stabbed and strangled her in her home whilst her children slept. Her body was mutilated and hidden under a pile of clothes.
"At sentencing the Judge described this as ‘a savage and merciless attack’ and whilst Marsh was given a life sentence, Jade’s family were shocked to learn that despite this it did not mean an end to his influence over their family.
"His marriage to Jade means he has parental responsibility over the children and so is legally entitled to be consulted over matters such as where they go to school, if their carers can take them abroad and what medical treatment they can receive.
"In other words, he can continue to exercise the same controlling behaviour he submitted Jade to, but this time over her children and her family from his jail cell.
"This is all within the law, because at present there is no mechanism for parental responsibility to be removed unless children are adopted.
"This situation is not unique to Jade’s family. Fatal domestic abuse takes the lives of two women every week in the UK. Many of those killed will have dependent children, often with the perpetrator.
"In each case the murderer is entitled to exercise his parental responsibility as he sees fit. In particularly harrowing cases, fathers have been able to block maternal family members from gaining residency of the children, sometimes with the children ending up in foster care instead.
"The fact that a father who kills their children’s mother cannot lose their ‘parental responsibility’ without lengthy legal battles is astonishing. What greater dereliction of responsibility towards a child can there be than to rob them of their mother and to burden them with a lifetime of trauma?
"Jade’s family do not want any other family to go through this. So, with a family friend they launched a petition calling for ‘Jade’s Law’.
"Their ask is simple - that parental responsibility be suspended for a parent when they have killed the other.
"On Monday the petition was debated in Parliament and during the debate I was pleased to set out that the Labour Party will, in Government, ensure that ‘Jade’s Law’ enters the statute books.
"It will form part of our many measures aimed at addressing the epidemic of violence against women and girls which shames this county.
"But to be clear, Jade’s Law is not about punishing the perpetrators. That is the job of the Courts. It is about ensuring that very vulnerable children are protected from further harm and abuse from men who have already shown they present a high risk of harm to their family.
"The rights of these children simply must come before the rights of their legal parent. It’s hard to fully comprehend the trauma they have already suffered. Many will have witnessed violence, and indeed sometimes the killing of their mother.
"For some of them this results in fear that they may be in further danger. Others are deprived of doing things they may have enjoyed, such as going abroad.
"Ultimately Jade’s law will aid children who lose their mum to fatal domestic abuse to have the space to address and work through their trauma and be protected from further harm.
"It is about ensuring we protect children, put the rights of victims above those of perpetrators and work to end violence against women and girls. The next Labour government will make Jade’s Law a reality. "
