Richard Quigley MP has led a Westminster Hall debate on ‘Protecting Children from Domestic Abuse’, timed to coincide with the UN’s 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence.
In his opening remarks on Thursday, Richard stressed that children are not just passive witnesses to domestic abuse – they are victims in their own right.
The Isle of Wight West MP tabled the debate in honour of the 19 children killed by perpetrators of domestic abuse between 2015 and 2024, highlighting the scale of the issue. He pointed out that in the year ending March 2024, an estimated 1.8million children in England were affected by domestic abuse. While 70% of affected children say they would seek support, 61% admit they wouldn’t know where to find it.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 was a landmark in recognising children as victims. However, Richard warned that while the Act diagnosed the problem, it has yet to provide an adequate cure, with funding failing to keep pace with rising demand for support services.
During the debate, Richard shared the story of an Isle of Wight woman who experienced abuse both as a child and later in her own relationship.
She told him:
“Like so many children, I became part of a cycle I never chose. After watching my mother suffer abuse, I unknowingly followed the same pattern. My daughter was born into a home where she, too, witnessed fear, control, and harm — things no child should ever see.”
Richard called on the Government to take urgent action, including:
- Amending the Children Act to reflect the lived experiences of children affected by domestic abuse and to make clear that coercive control constitutes harm to children
- Publishing a clear timeline for implementing family court reforms recommended in the Ministry of Justice’s Harm Panel Review (2020)
- Rolling out mandatory, multi-agency training on domestic abuse across the family justice system
- Investing in prevention programmes on violence against women and girls (VAWG) in schools and educational settings
Richard concluded the debate, stating:
“Protecting children from domestic abuse is not just about safeguarding their present — it’s about securing their future. Every child deserves a home that feels safe, not one they fear returning to.”
Please no photo of this smarmy Liebor mp.Only pops up when there is a chance of possible positive pr. No where to be seen when firms closing down on the Isle of Wight or crimes being committed.Labour out asap 1356 days maximum and the clock is ticking.
Totally agree with you, he is absolutely rubbish
What a hypocrite that guy is, he doesn’t care about anyone but himself & the labour wef/fabians agenda, attacking lucy connolly after the Southport massacre, no thoughts to those three innocent little girls that had their precious lives taken away, no thoughts to the innocent women, children & men who suffer every day at the hands of who he & the evil labour government support, he should resign! The sooner labour are gone the better
100%in agreement with you well said.