Moving testimony from the mothers of two teenagers murdered in the North East will help form a Labour Government’s policy on knife crime, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The party leader made the pledge during a powerful and emotional meeting with Zoey McGill and Tanya Brown who are campaigning for action to save lives after losing their own sons at the age of 18.
The meeting in Hartlepool was arranged by The Northern Echo after Sir Keir responded to a front-page plea by the women to get their voices heard by those in power.
Read more: The Northern Echo calls on the Prime Minister for urgent action on knife crime
Sir Keir, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, said Jack Woodley, from Newton Aycliffe, and Connor Brown, from Sunderland, would be in his thoughts when forming policy if he becomes Prime Minister after the next General Election.
During the meeting Zoey played heart-breaking footage of her singing to Jack in his hospital bed shortly after his death in October 2021.
Read more: Powerful video shows County Durham mum singing to her murdered son on death bed
Sir Keir said: “For me, this was really powerful, and this is why we wanted to meet.
“We need to hear first hand and see the impact it has had on families and the ripple effect.
“I am a big believer in working with people who have been affected.”
During the meeting, Zoey and Tanya told Sir Keir and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper how they see early intervention strategies and preventative measures as key to tackling knife crime.
Tanya talked about the work of the Connor Brown Trust and how she goes into schools to educate young people of the danger of carrying knives.
Sir Keir said: “What I want you to take away, is that what you have shared has had an impact on us and that will mean when we are taking policy decisions we are not just sitting with loads of statistics.
“You and your sons will be in our thoughts and our minds.
“We must never lose that, the human element.”
Jack Woodley was fatally stabbed during a savage gang attack as he left the Houghton Feast in Houghton-le-Spring.
His ten killers, jailed for life for murder, who were 14-17 at the time, are now appealing against their convictions.
Read next:
- Open letter to Prime Minister for action on knife crime
- Aycliffe mum of Jack Woodley is 'heartbroken' after Tomasz Oleszak stabbing
- Footballers pay tribute to Gateshead teenager
To get more stories direct to your email basket go here
Connor Brown died in 2019 after a fatal stabbing trying to protect others from Leighton Barrass who pulled a knife during an argument over two £5 notes.
Police are continuing to investigate the fatal wounding of 14-year Gordon Gault in Newcastle, and a 15-year-old boy is on trial for the alleged murder of Tomasz Oleszak, 14, in Gateshead in September.
A 16-year-old Gateshead boy has been charged with murder following the stabbing of 15-year-old Holly Newton in Hexham in January.
Sir Keir said: “This is not just about numbers and statistics. It is about brilliant lives that have been lost.
“I want you to know, as human beings, we take that away.
“If it is any comfort at all just know that Jack and Connor are the people we will be thinking of when we are trying to make difficult decisions and it is very important for us to have met you.”
“If we are privileged enough to form the next Government I want you feel you can get hold of me and Yvette and say ‘you are not going far enough’, if that is what you feel. We need to amplify what you are doing.”
Yvette Cooper praised the mothers for their bravery in telling Jack and Connor’s stories to save the lives of others.
She said: “It is so important and helps how we find the answers and how we do the work to prevent young people being drawn into carrying knives or criminal activity in the first instance.”
The meeting was arranged as part of the Northern Echo’s ongoing campaign to address knife crime following a spate of sickening attacks by young people on other teenagers in recent years.
Zoey said: “It went really well. We are fighting for our kids and other people’s kids to save more lives. It was nice that they took the time to meet us.
“They can now see that Connor and Jack were real people.”
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here.
Tanya said she is now looking to work full time and dedicate her life to tackling knife crime.
She said: “I am grateful that they both agreed to meet us.
“They listened to us, listened with their hearts, and took on board exactly what we were saying.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel