Exclusive

JOHN HEMMING, THE MUSICAL

03-05-2008

The Stirrer is delighted to bring readers an exclusive clip of Birmingham MP John Hemming, whose debut single is released as a download next week. The track, “Bring The Sunshine In”, is aimed at highlighting miscarriages of justice against mothers and fathers.

To hear a clip, click here (mp3, 1.6mb file)

"The song", Hemming said, "calls for more openness in the Family Courts.

“Britain has a network of secret courts that lock up mothers, fathers and grandparents for heinous crimes like talking to their children or grand children. These secret courts make lots of money for lawyers and expert witnesses, but the general public is not allowed to know what goes on".

"The verses in the song refer to real situations although some of the names have been changed. If the names had not been changed then people could be sent to jail for playing the song because of the secret courts."

"The money raised will go to the Angela Cannings Foundation and to pay for advisors to help parents fight for justice."

"Not all of the decisions of the Family Courts are wrong, but many are. However, people are not allowed to reveal publicly what goes on in the court without permission. We do need a system to protect children, but it must be accountable. Those who abuse their power need to be held to account."

Hemming has given a helpful insight to the lyrics. Here’s the chorus, for example.

Lets bring the sunshine in

lets end this awful sin

mums and dads are being convicted

because the truth has been evicted

He said, “The chorus is one of the campaign's objectives. We need people to be able to talk about what happens in the Family Courts so that miscarriages of justice can be prevented. At the moment people have their children removed when they have not done anything wrong.”

One verse refers to a woman called “Sarah” who had her baby put up for adoption after being told she was too stupid to tell her solicitor what to do.

Another refers to Sally Clark's case where the doctors were thought to have so badly misled the jury that one of them was found guilty of "misconduct".

There’s also a verse about the case Fran Lyon, one of Hemming’s constituents, who left the UK to have baby in Stockholm which she did in January 2008 and now regards herself as a refugee from the Family Courts.

A Birmingham music producer – coincidentally also called John Hemming – wrote the song with the MP who provided the lyrics.

The tune will be available via iTunes, Amazon, Coolmusic, orchard, beatport and eMusic and is a worldwide digital release.

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