Massive support for the Evening Mail's "Justice for Isobel" campaign is a reflection of the public's concern of the need to rid the roads of "scum" drivers, a leading MP said today.
Transport Minister John Spellar spoke out before today's 90-minute Commons debate to discuss Home Office Minister Lord Falconer's pledge that killer drink or drug drivers will face indeterminate sentences.
The debate will be led by the MP for Wansbeck in the North East, Denis Murphy, who wants life sentences for killer drivers like Ian Carr - in line with the Evening Mail's petition-backed campaign.
Carr, 27, a banned driver with 89 previous convictions, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years imprisonment after being convicted of killing six-year-old Rebecca Sawyer of Ashington and seriously injuring her sister, Kirsty, and father, Steven.
Earlier this year, following pressure from Mr Murphy and our sister paper, the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Home Secretary David Blunkett raised the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving from ten to 14 years.
The Evening Mail's campaign was launched after 40-year-old Gary Clarke, from Wisley Way in Quinton, killed three-year-old Isobel Appleton hours after snorting heroin.
He received just five years in jail and a ten-year driving ban despite admitting a similar charge.
Clarke had 93 previous convictions - including 19 for driving while disqualified and nine for drink-driving - and had served several jail sentences of three and six months for driving while banned.
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Mr Spellar is fully supporting our campaign, which is backed by more than 3,000 signatures from readers and by families in North Devon, where Isobel spent her childhood.
He said his colleague, Plymouth Devonport MP David Jamieson, the Parliamentary under-Secretary of State at the Department of Transport, would be replying to today's debate
"He will be making very clear the Department's concern about those driving untaxed, uninsured and responsible for multiple offences," said Mr Spellar.
"The support for the campaign reflects a real public concern and anger that we have scum out there with no regard for other people's lives."
