MP and father of stillborn hits out at Labour's 'disgusting' claim babies will die if Tories win Copeland

A father of a stillborn baby and Tory MP has hit out at Labour for its “disgusting” suggestion that babies will die if the Government wins the Copeland by-election. 

Will Quince, the MP for Colchester, said he was left “angry and sad in equal measure” by a campaigning leaflet distributed by the Labour party to constituents in Cumbria.  

The Tory MP and his wife lost their son who was stillborn full term in October 2014 and Mr Quince has fought to improve care for bereaved parents since entering parliament last year. 

The Conservatives believe that they are on course to win Copeland in Cumbria, making them the first governing party to gain a seat in a by-election since 1982.

As a result Labour have tried to focus their campaign on the NHS, which has included a leaflet claiming “mothers will dies, babies will die” with “a vote for the Tories.”

Writing for the Huffington Post, the MP said: “In every political party there are, sadly, campaigns that are run which some find unpleasant or hard to stomach. I include various carried out by my own party in this list.

Copeland | Previous Labour vote shares

“However, the past week or so in Copeland has seen a Labour campaign that has made me angry and sad in equal measure.

“To see a mainstream political party - a party I respected - run a campaign quoting from unnamed midwifes saying ‘mothers will die, babies will die, babies will be brain damaged’ is simply disgusting.”

He added: “I have no issue whatsoever with political parties campaigning on the NHS.

“Further, I consider it entirely acceptable for the Labour party to campaign on maternity issues. In many respects I welcome it as we need to talk more openly about baby loss and the causes.

“To put on a leaflet or a poster that ‘mothers will die, babies will die, babies will be brain damaged’ is another - it is scaremongering seeking nothing more than to stoke fear.

“In my view this kind of disgraceful campaigning has no place in mainstream politics. It sends out a dangerous message to the parents and families of the circa 5000 babies that are stillborn or die neo-natally annually in the UK that they are a political football.” 

Copeland by-election | Candidates

The Copeland-by election this Thursday was triggered by the resignation of Jamie Reed MP. 

A senior ally of Jeremy Corbyn admitted Labour could lose two by-elections this week as it faces challenges from the Conservatives and Ukip.

Diane Abbott, the shadow Home Secretary, said that the Copeland and Stoke by-elections will both be "difficult" and "quite tight".