A PETITION to change the law over prisoners' parental rights set up by friends and family of a murdered Flintshire mum has been nominated for an award.

The family of Jade Ward and a family friend, Edwin Duggan, began the petition on the Parliament website. 

Jade Ward was brutally murdered at her home in Shotton by her ex-partner Russell Marsh in 2021. Marsh was jailed for a minimum of 25 years for her murder.

But he assumed guardianship of the 27-year-old's children while in prison and continued to contact the family asking for photographs and school report.

Jade's family, alongside friend Edwin Duggan, then campaigned to change the law and suspend the rights of killer parents who, under current laws, need to be consulted on decisions affecting their children such as health, education and travel.

The petition received 130,000 signatures and was debated in Parliament. Last year, the UK government announced it would introduce Jade's Law by amending the Victims and Prisoners Bill.

The new legislation will introduce an automatic suspension of parental responsibility while any mother or father is serving time for killing the person with whom they shared that role.

The Petitions Committee, a cross-party group of MPs, nominated three campaigns for the Petitioner of the Year award.

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Edwin Duggan, a friend of the Ward family and creator of the petition, said: “Campaigning has been both emotional and rewarding.  I found a flaw in the legal system which failed families.  

“After wording the petition in such a way not to conflict with any existing legislation (the Human Rights Act for instance) I soon had a team of volunteers - made up of Jade's family and close friends - TeamJade. 

“We campaigned online, and then in cities including London, Blackpool, Manchester and Chester. 

“After the petition closed, after the debate, I continued putting pressure on the Government to change their minds. The road to success has been long, however, worth it.

“Failure is not in my vocabulary. The legacy for Jade is complete.”

Cat Smith MP, the Chair of the Petitions Committee, said: “As Chair of the Petitions Committee, I have seen first-hand the incredible campaigning of these three groups of petitioners.

“The work that each of them put it into their campaigns, often beginning in times of grief, have led to positive changes across the country.

“I want to pay tribute to each of them and wish them luck.”

All three petitions were scheduled for debate by the Petitions Committee.

The winner will take part in a ceremony with the Speaker of the House of Commons in the House of Commons on Monday, March 25. The winner will be announced at the end of February.