THE parents of Violet-Grace Youens may have left Westminster without the clear timetable for the change in dangerous driving laws that they were demanding.

But their campaign was emboldened by the incredibly powerful message that was delivered to MPs during a debate on Monday afternoon which laid bare the weak and outdated sentencing guidelines for drivers whose abhorrent recklessness claims lives.

Becky and Glenn showed tremendous courage in describing – for media outlets at the Star’s offices last week – harrowing detail of their heart-shattering story to convey why change is needed (see pages 4 and 5).

That story and the tragedies and injustices faced by other families were aired as MPs gathered in Westminster Hall.

With the bereaved families having met at the debate, the campaign now has a united voice of victims to go with the 165,000 names supporting the e-petition.

Surely now government ministers must end the waiting game and feel compelled to deliver change as swiftly as possible and give judges powers, in heinous cases, to sentence dangerous drivers who kill to life imprisonment.

n As one campaign fights for change, another has been given assurances that it will enter the statute books (see page 6).

Helen’s Law, in the name of Helen McCourt, has clear Government support.

- It is a testimony to the resilience and relentlessness of her mother Marie that the long campaign has secured victory.

For three decades Marie has suffered the pain of not knowing where her daughter’s remains are and, in recent years, the fear that convicted murderer Ian Simms will be released from prison on parole without that information ever being revealed.

Her efforts mean families who face this situation in the future should be free from such fears.

- St Helens should feel proud of both the Youens and McCourts this week.

Credit should also go to their MPs Marie Rimmer and Conor McGinn, who are showing both compassion and passion in campaigning for these causes.