Progress on our Blank Space campaign: Some promising words from Government officials

February 2026

WAY’s Blank Space campaign calls for greater sensitivity and consistency in how bereaved mothers are supported when registering their baby’s birth if their partner has died. For too long, gaps in guidance and information have added unnecessary distress at an already devastating time – leading to a Blank Space where the father’s name should be on a baby’s birth certificate, if the parents weren’t married.

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Over the past year, WAY has been working closely with MPs and ministers to push for changes that bring the legislation and practice up to date — and we are now seeing some encouraging progress.

We have been working with MPs, including former WAY Chair Caroline Voaden — now the Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon — to make the changes needed to make the legislation fit for the 21^st century.

On June 2025, Parliament heard a proposed change to the law led by Labour MP Jen Craft through a Ten Minute Rule Bill.

Following a meeting with the Justice Minister, we have now received a letter from Baroness Levitt, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, which includes some promising words. She wrote:

“My officials have engaged with the General Register Office (GRO) and identified that there is currently no specific guidance for Registrars on this issue. We are now considering options to fill this gap, with the aim of improving the experience for families at what is already a difficult time.

In parallel, we are reviewing how best to support frontline staff engaging with bereaved parents. This includes developing guidance as to how these cases should be approached and handled with sensitivity, ensuring staff are equipped to respond appropriately and consistently. Early engagement on this matter has taken place with HM Courts and Tribunals Service and we hope to have further discussions in due course.

We also want to ensure that bereaved parents themselves are supported with clear and accessible information. We are looking at how best to produce support materials for families, so they understand the process and the steps they may need to take when registering their child’s birth, helping to reduce uncertainty and distress during an already challenging period. We will ensure that we engage with relevant stakeholders, including Widowed and Young, as this work progresses.”

This response marks an important step forward for the Blank Space campaign. While there is still a lot more work to do, the commitment to improved guidance, improve support for frontline staff and produce clearer information for bereaved mothers reflects some of the changes WAY has long been calling for. 

We will continue to work with ministers and officials to ensure these promises translate into meaningful improvements for bereaved mothers and their babies.

If you’ve been affected by this injustice, do get in touch. We are keen to document how many people have been affected and we also need people who are willing to share their stories to help change the system for women facing these unfair hurdles in future.

Do get in touch if you’d like to be involved in our Blank Space in any way via enquiries@widowedandyoung.org.uk