Re the story below: MAG is supporting the campaign by donating 100 pounds to the coach hire fund and will be offering lobbying assistance to the campaign as required.

Please contact your MP at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA and urge him/her to support the Early Day Motion (EDM)

Thousands of people have now signed a petition calling for a tougher jail sentence to be imposed on Anthony Wynne, aged 31, from Walkden. Gareth Willis, aged 29, from Farnworth, was killed when a car being driven by Wynne hit his motorbike in Little Hulton last year. Wynne admitted in court he had been

drinking earlier in the day and that, having only ever had two driving lessons, he had no insurance or licence. He also admitted failing to stop after the accident.

He was sentenced to 30 months in prison by a judge at Manchester Crown Court. The sentence was halved, with 15 months suspended for him to carry out community service.

The sentence was met with anger from Mr Willis's father Geoff, mother Margaret, and brother Terry.

They started a campaign to get the sentence increased by circulating a petition, contacting MP Brian Iddon and writing to the Crown Prosecution Service. The case has now been referred to the Court of Appeal. Geoff said: 'The Early Day Motion proposing tougher sentences for motorists found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving will be presented in October. We hope we can go to Number 10 to present the petition to coincide with this and for the appeal case to go ahead the same month.'

The family expect a coach of supporters to travel down to London with them when they present their petition and are currently fund-raising to find the cost of the coach. The coach should cost £750, but the company has dropped the price for us to £600. 'We are now appealing to people to help us find the cost of the trip, in addition to supporting our campaign for justice.'

MAG Spokesman Ian Mutch: 'The nation is now weary of the incomprehensible sentences being handed out to perpetrators of acts such as this, MAG will give this family all the help that it can.'

The EDM number is 977 entitled ROAD DEATHS dated 13/07/2000 sponsored by Andrew Millar MP.

"That this House notes that the present Home Office consultation document on reforming the law on involuntary manslaughter has left out road deaths from being considered for inclusion under this law; believes that this consultation is an opportunity to try and assess the advantages and disadvantages of dealing with one form of unlawful death and injury under a separate law, instead of common law, particularly in view of the overwhelming evidence of public dissatisfaction with the present road traffic law (Road Traffic Act 1988, amended in 1991), supported by numerous petitions delivered to the Home Office, and most recently a 13,000 signature petition by RoadPeace, and supported also by a great many complaints from their constituents to most honourable Members; notes that there is a growing agreement that the law cannot continue as at present and also the Human Rights Act 1999 will require that road deaths be treated no differently from other culpable deaths; believes that this consultation also provides a change to end discrimination in respect of road deaths, beginning with the investigation and ending with derisory sentences in magistrates' courts where the fact of death is not even recorded on court records, and to end the social exclusion of bereaved families of road victims, who feel deeply insulted by the lack of acknowledgement of their loss and the treatment of their loved ones' death; and therefore calls for road deaths to be included for consideration under all three charges proposed".

So far it has been signed by the following 42 MPs

Austin/John, Barnes/Harry, Brown/Russell, Cable/Vincent, Chidgey/David, Clapham/Michael, Clarke/Tony, Cook/Frank, Corbyn/Jeremy, Cryer/Ann Davey/Edward, Dismore/Andrew, Drew/David, Efford/Clive, Godman/Norman A, Gorrie/Donald Griffiths/Win, Hancock/Mike, Humble/Joan, Iddon/Brian, Jackson/Glenda, Jones/Barry, Jones/Lynne, Jones/Nigel, Laxton/Bob, Mahon/Alice McDonnell/John, McNamara/Kevin, Michie/Bill Miller/Andrew, Moffatt/Laura, Perham/Linda, Reed/Andrew, Russell/Bob, Simpson/Alan Steinberg/Gerry, Stunell/Andrew, Taylor/David, Thomas/Simon, Vis/Rudi, Williams/Betty, Wyatt/Derek