Parliament Campaign
10 February 2026 - Meeting booked with Minister, Baroness Levitt KC.
31 January 2026 - Minister, Baroness Levitt KC, offered bereaved parents a meeting to discuss automatic data preservation, and Ellen is awaiting a date from the Minister's office.
27 January 2026 - Jools’ Law was debated in the House of Lords following a powerful, cross-party discussion led by Baroness Beeban Kidron. Peers from all sides spoke with compassion and urgency, recognising the need for automatic preservation of children’s digital data so deaths can be properly investigated and families can access answers.
Bereaved parents watched from the gallery as real momentum for change emerged. While the Government has not yet agreed to the amendment, the Minister has committed to further discussions, and there is a genuine opportunity for Jools’ Law to be passed when the House of Lords votes in 2026. You can watch the powerful debate here
27 January 2026 - In the House of Lords, Baroness Berger raised the issue of litigation brought by bereaved British parents against TikTok following the deaths of their children. She asked what assessment the Government had made of the implications of this legal action. Responding for the Government, Baroness Lloyd of Effra acknowledged the case and expressed sympathy for the families. She stated that powers under the Online Safety Act have been commenced to require information from platforms about a child’s online activity following their death, and that a data preservation process has been established to prevent the loss of relevant information. Baroness Berger followed up by highlighting that parents, including Ellen Roome, have spent years trying to access their children’s social media data, only to find that crucial digital evidence is often not requested in the early period and is routinely deleted or lost. She urged the Government to introduce automatic digital data preservation in every child death so that these tragedies can be fully and properly investigated.
19 January 2026 - Meeting with Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for the Department of Science and Technology. There were about 25 bereaved parents but I dont have the image of all of us yet.
8 January 2026 - I've been told that the tabled amendment to the bill is likely to be discussed on 27th Jan. I plan to be there in the House of Lords when it is.
4 January 2026 - Sittings coming up on 7,13,15,20,22,27 Jan in the House of Lords to discuss Baroness Beeban Kidron's amendments to the Crime & Policing Bill wording. You can read the full tabled amendment here.
8 December 2025 - I met in the House of Lords with Baroness Beeban Kidron, Baroness Diana Barran and Baroness Nicky Morgan (Lord Clement-Jones couldn't make it). We worked through the proposed wording for the Crime and Policing Bill that reflects JoolsLaw. This amendment aims to ensure that when a child dies, their online data is automatically preserved so families and coroners can access the truth.
12th November 2025 - I have been invited to the House of Lords on 8 December for a meeting with:
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Baroness Beeban Kidron
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Baroness Diana Barran
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Baroness Nicky Morgan
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Lord Tim Clement-Jones
These peers are the official sponsors of Baroness Kidron’s amendment. Up to four sponsors can support an amendment, including the peer who originally tables it, so having full backing at this stage is a very positive sign.
16th October 2025 - during Second Reading of the Crime and Policing Bill in the Lords, Baroness Beeban Kidron said she had “four further areas of concern.” Her first was the way Data Preservation Notices (DPNs) from the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 are working in practice. She reminded the House that peers had added provisions empowering coroners to require tech firms to preserve data when a child has died, noted that proposals for automatic preservation and statutory guidance were rejected, and said bereaved families still aren’t benefiting because notices aren’t used quickly enough or understood, and that she will table amendments to make the law work as intended.
23rd September 2025 – I responded to the Government’s consultation on Data Preservation Notices (DPNs) and Coroner Information Notices (CINs), highlighting gaps that put vital digital evidence at risk. I called for automatic preservation of a child’s social media data, standardised templates, and clear oversight to ensure bereaved families can access crucial information about their child’s final days.
14th August 2025 – met with Baroness Beeban Kidron OBE, a life peer in the UK House of Lords and internationally recognised for her work on children’s digital rights, online safety, and how the digital environment intersects with childhood. During our discussion, I raised my concerns that the new Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, specifically Data Preservation Notices — is still not working properly in practice for bereaved families.
15th May 2025 – I met with Minister Jones (Department of Science and Technology), Minister Johnson (Home Office), and Minister Davies-Jones (Minister of Justice) to discuss the Data Bill. I stressed the urgent need for training for Police and Coroners so the powers in the Bill are understood and applied, ensuring no other bereaved parent is left without vital data.
13th January 2025 – My petition was debated in Parliament. MPs agreed that parents should have the right to seek answers using social media data when a child has died. I was offered a ministerial meeting and continued to press for an amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill.
17th July 2024 – During the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament, the Government confirmed that the Data (Use and Access) Bill would be reintroduced.
30th May 2024 – The petition closed with 126,033 signatures – well above the 100,000 threshold needed for a Parliamentary debate.
28th May 2024 – We reached 100,000 signatures. I was on a train to London and felt overwhelmed.
21st May 2024 – With just nine days before petitions were due to close early because of the General Election, I asked the public for one birthday wish: “Please sign and share my petition.” Grace Carter made another video appeal, which helped push signatures to the finish line.
27th April 2024 – I launched a government petition:
#JoolsLaw – Parents to have full access to their children’s social media.
My son Jools was 14 when he ended his life in 2022. Since then, I have never been able to access his accounts to see what might have contributed. Parents should have the right to access their children’s social media accounts, both while alive (to help keep them safe) and after death.
Grace Carter, who I had never met before, reached out from Aphra and offered to create a video to support the petition. Her help was invaluable in building momentum.