MP calls for ‘real-world consequences’ for driving without licence after boy’s death
Will Stone says the current legislation ‘doesn’t make any sense’.
Last updated 4th Feb 2025
MP for North Swindon, Will Stone, is introducing a Bill on road safety to Parliament on Tuesday following the death of a teenage boy outside his school.
1\4 year old Harry Parker was hit by a car outside Nova Hreod Academy on Akers Way in Swindon in November 2022 and died from his injuries.
A woman was charged with causing death by careless driving, causing death by driving while unlicensed and causing death by driving while uninsured, but the charges were later dropped by CPS due to a lack of evidence.
Will Stone MP said: “The reason why I chose to do this is because I was shocked at the decision to drop the case.
"It wasn’t something I expected – I thought the family would get justice.
I don’t want anyone to go through what they have gone through and it is the job of a constituency MP to represent the residents and champion their issues and I think this is one of the most concerning issues in Swindon North at this moment in time”.
The decision to drop the case was made based on the current state of the law.
Through the Bill – which is called Harry Parker’s Bill – the MP and the family are trying to close this legal loophole.
“What I’m looking to change with my Ten Minute Rule Bill is, if you hit someone, and you hit someone and you do not have a license, you are automatically deemed as careless”, explained Will Stone.
He has ten minutes to present the bill - if someone opposes it, they also get ten minutes to make their argument - afterwards, the House votes on the matter.
Stone is optimistic that the Bill will pass its first reading tomorrow since he has the maximum number of 11 MPs from different parties behind him to sponsor it.
However, he is realistic about the chances of the Bill passing all its readings and getting adopted as law.
If that does not happen, Stone is looking to convince the government to include the issue in their new Road Safety Act.
“They’re looking at their strategic review of how we can make roads safer, and I personally think this has to be implemented into it because people can’t feel comfortable driving without a license.
"There have to be real-world consequences for your actions”.
He has been working closely with Harry’s parents who are also attending the reading today.