{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/770364.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":770364,"attributes":{"action":"Laws relating to children must use \"must\" not \"should\"","background":"Laws involving children often uses the terminology of the word \"should\", which we believe leads to ambiguous expectations regarding professional responsibilities. We propose changing this language to \"must,\" thereby establishing a clear legal duty for professionals within the child welfare sector.","additional_details":"Transformation of Terminology: “must” conveys obligation while “should” implies no more than a strong recommendation. We must change all instances of \"should\" to \"must\" in current law relating to children, especially:   \r\n\r\n1. child protection legislation, ensuring that professionals are legally required to adopt a child-centred approach in their practice. This change must affect all future child protection laws to help establish clear legal obligations.\r\n2. parental and carer rights legislation - amend the legislation to guarantee that parents and caregivers have unequivocal rights in legal circumstances, including the recognition that their voices \"must\" be heard.\r\n","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":41,"closing_date":"2026-12-17","created_at":"2026-05-20T14:20:14.412Z","updated_at":"2026-06-21T07:38:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-06-17T12:48:47.920Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-05-20T14:41:50.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"James Swallow-Gaunt","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"CO","name":"Cabinet Office","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":41}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Barnsley North","ons_code":"E14001074","mp":"Rt Hon Dan Jarvis MP","signature_count":11},{"name":"Barnsley South","ons_code":"E14001075","mp":"Stephanie Peacock MP","signature_count":9},{"name":"Cramlington and Killingworth","ons_code":"E14001183","mp":"Emma Foody MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Croydon East","ons_code":"E14001186","mp":"Natasha Irons MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Doncaster Central","ons_code":"E14001198","mp":"Sally Jameson MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Doncaster North","ons_code":"E14001200","mp":"Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Harpenden and Berkhamsted","ons_code":"E14001268","mp":"Victoria Collins MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Huddersfield","ons_code":"E14001297","mp":"Harpreet Uppal MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Leeds West and Pudsey","ons_code":"E14001325","mp":"Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Loughborough","ons_code":"E14001342","mp":"Dr Jeevun Sandher MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Normanton and Hemsworth","ons_code":"E14001383","mp":"Jon Trickett MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Penistone and Stocksbridge","ons_code":"E14001423","mp":"Dr Marie Tidball MP","signature_count":5},{"name":"Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley","ons_code":"E14001428","mp":"Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Rawmarsh and Conisbrough","ons_code":"E14001436","mp":"Rt Hon John Healey MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Stafford","ons_code":"E14001513","mp":"Leigh Ingham MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Wakefield and Rothwell","ons_code":"E14001560","mp":"Simon Lightwood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Watford","ons_code":"E14001568","mp":"Matt Turmaine MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Cardiff East","ons_code":"W07000089","mp":"Rt Hon Jo Stevens MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North East","ons_code":"A","signature_count":1},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":33},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":2},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":1},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":1},{"name":"Wales","ons_code":"L","signature_count":1}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}