Charity honours Leeds MP for fight for justice

The award, backed by insurers Direct Line, recognises the Leeds North West MP’s fight for improved justice for the families of people killed in road crashes by criminal driving.

The Liberal Democrat was spurred into action by the cases of two bereaved families in his constituency and dozens more across the UK who feel badly let down by the overly lenient sentences that are often handed down.

The MP has been working on his Criminal Driving (Justice for Victims) Private Members’ Bill for some time now and finally got to read the Bill in the House of Commons on January 12 under the 10-minute rule.

The Bill was backed by 31 MPs and there is a chance it could progress further in March.

The Criminal Driving Bill calls for longer and tougher sentences for those who kill, improvements to the way investigations into the crimes are carried out and better treatment and support for the victims of these crimes and their families.

Mr Mulholland, accepting the award, said: “I’m very pleased to have been awarded Brake’s Road Safety Parliamentarian of the Month.

“I want to pay tribute to the campaigning of families who have lost loved ones due to criminal driving; I want to keep campaigning for better justice for victims of criminal drivers and do all I can to ensure government takes up the measures in my Criminal Driving Bill.

“I also want to thank Brake and its staff for the support they have given to this vital campaign and I look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Brake is campaigning for better justice for both the victims of road crashes and the families of those killed by criminal driving. It is using the #roadstojustice hashtag on Twitter. Visit www.brake.org.uk for more.