Politicians are famous for their proverbially thick skin. But there were emotional scenes in the House of Commons last night when Antoinette Sandbach, the Conservative MP for Eddisbury, broke down in tears after sharing the story of the night she lost her child.
Sandbach was taking part in an adjournment debate on bereavement care in maternity units that had been proposed by Will Quince, the Conservative MP for Colchester who has also suffered the loss of his baby.
Adjournment debates are an opportunity for back bench MPs to raise issues that are close to their hearts. These debates are usually very poorly attended.
But last night Tory MPs packed the benches behind Will Quince and Antoinette Sandbach to show their support. Many took to Twitter afterwards to praise their bravery.
Tonight's adjournment debate on maternal bereavement by @willquince & @ASandbachMP moved me to tears. Thank you both for raising this issue.
- James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) November 3, 2015Very emotional & key adjournment debate last eve-MP's who've lost their children @willquince @ASandbachMP on maternity bereavement provision
- MimsDaviesMP (@mimsdavies) November 3, 2015Really powerful stuff in the adjournment debate tonight. These really are worth hanging around for. Well done @willquince @ASandbachMP
- Johnny Mercer MP (@JohnnyMercerMP) November 2, 2015If you want to see Parlmt at its best, look no further than @ASandbachMP and @willquince speeches on bereavement in maternity units tonight.
- Chris Heaton-Harris (@chhcalling) November 2, 2015A tremendously powerful debate hosted by @willquince & @ASandbachMP tonight on bereavement care in maternity wards - superb speeches
- Ben Howlett MP (@ben4bath) November 2, 2015Brave, brave, brave @willquince @ASandbachMP in tonight's debate and good action points on bereavement that the Minister will act on.
- Dr Tania Mathias MP (@tania_mathias) November 2, 2015Incredibly moving speeches from @willquince and @ASandbachMP, from painful experience, of need for bereavement care in maternity units.
- Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) November 2, 2015