The mother of all parliaments has seen a fair share of debates, spectacles and other historical events happen. But last week MPs in a historical first displayed raw emotion as a fellow member told her story of the child she lost 23 years ago.
The MPs were reduced to tears as Vicky Foxcroft, Labour MP for Lewisham Deptford, movingly spoke about losing Veronica at just five days old as part of a debate during Babyloss Awareness Week. The MP who became pregnant at 16 described how the baby died as the umbilical cord got tangled around her neck during birth.
Ms Foxcroft said “This is probably the hardest speech I have ever had to write and deliver. My baby awareness week is every year - the 22nd to the 27th of February, my five days of her being alive. I don't have children now because I live through the fear of the same thing happening and I just couldn't do it twice.”
Ms Foxcoroft moved MPs including Conservative stalwart Sir Nicholas Soames and Victoria Prentis as she described the experience of turning off the life support machine five days after the baby’s birth.
The MP said she wanted to share her experience to help other young women, after she was made to feel like she should be “grateful” her child died.
