HEXHAM MP Guy Opperman has spoken about the loss of his twin boys in an interview during Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Mr Opperman and his wife Flora's newborn twin boys, Teddy and Rafe, died in 2020.

In an interview with Kate McCann for TalkTV, Mr Opperman said: "I was working in Westminster at the time and she went into pre-term labour.

"Sadly over a period of time of several days, we lost the first child very quickly and then the second child was born and survived for a day. But at the end of a very, very long day he sadly passed away.

"We have navigated our emotions, our sadness and our grief over the last two years to the best of our possible abilities to be honest.

"The twins were a product of IVF and a lot of effort and many years of trying, so the loss of them was genuinely awful. But you also learn things along the way and you also try and navigate through the system the best you possibly can."

He added: "I did five parliamentary bills and acts of parliament in the following year and a half. You just keep going and I think you hope you have a strong marriage or relationship, and the two of you stick together to the best of your availability.

"I think you also try and look forward. We had two children already, we just didn't get to take them home. 

"So you try for a third child, and fortunately 10 weeks ago young Christopher was born, and this time we got to take our child home."

Asked whether he would support calls for those who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks to get paid leave, Mr Opperman said "100 per cent".

"It's something I think the government supports as well. 

"It's a bill that's going through the House of Commons and I believe that the previous administration very much supported it and I'm quite certain that will continue.

"I spent I think six days in St Thomas' Hospital as we tried to save the two children. We were in a position when I then had to just go home and the idea that you have to go back to work the next day is naive and also no-one would be productive that next day.

"You want to try and look after your staff, you want to try and help people through that and I think the state should to the best of its ability provide some degree of assistance."

On his message to people who might be going through what he has been through, Mr Opperman said: "Hug everybody closely, be kind to yourself - don't blame yourselves because that way a very dark place is and it's very hard to get out of, and try to look forward while also remembering the circumstances you've been through."

Baby Loss Awareness Week is held annually from October 9 to 15.