Child abusers should lose parental rights, MP Carolyn Harris says

Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris has told MPs that convicted child abusers should not be "allowed to pull the strings from inside a prison cell" by retaining parental rights to see their victims.

Leading a debate at Westminster, she said prisoners should be allowed to be involved in their child's life as long as it did not harm the child or other other parent.

Ms Harris said she had been left "speechless and emotionally drained" by the "harrowing" stories of children not being free of contact from their abuser.

Phillip Lee, a junior justice minister, said the family court already had powers to restrict parental access, but added that calls to tighten the law would be "carefully considered".