PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has backed a grieving Exeter mum’s campaign aimed at tackling drink-driving.

In an interview with the Express & Echo, Mr Brown expressed his sympathy to Ali Morrish, whose 21-year-old daughter Anna died in a crash involving a drink-driver in 2008.

He spoke out against the “wanton loss of life as a result of the selfishness of drunk drivers”, and pledged continued Government action.

Mrs Morrish, of Mount Pleasant, Exeter, recently launched Anna’s Campaign with the Echo to highlight the personal cost of drink-driving, as well as its potentially tragic consequences. Anna died after accepting a lift home from a party from someone who had been drinking.

The Prime Minister had been due to be in Exeter on Friday for a regional cabinet meeting, but it was cancelled due to the poor weather.

Giving his backing to Mrs Morrish’s campaign in an interview with the Echo from Downing Street, Mr Brown said: “I have got to sympathise with the tragedy of a 21-year-old girl, Anna, who died in a crash in 2008, and the anguish and pain of a mother losing her daughter.

“We should congratulate her on being prepared to spend her time trying to improve the position for others who may be affected by this wanton loss of life as a result of the selfishness of drunk drivers.”

The PM pointed out that legal expert Sir Peter North had been tasked with advising on considerations of lowering the legal drink-drive limit, as well as a possible tightening of the laws on drug-driving. Sir Peter is due to report by the end of March. Mr Brown said: “We have had 40 years of government education campaigns but obviously we need to always look at whether we should strengthen the law, that’s why Sir Peter North is looking at these things.

“I would say to Ali Morrish that we are taking seriously what she has said and are looking at what more we can do. The tragic loss of young lives should be avoided at all times.”

He said action would continue to further improve the situation after the number of people killed in drink-driving accidents had fallen by three-quarters since 1979.

In response to the PM’s comments, Mrs Morrish said: “That is brilliant. I am overwhelmed and immensely grateful to the Prime Minister for his great and thoughtful consideration of this matter and of our campaign.

“I wonder if the PM is able to empathise more in a way because he, too, has lost a child, but his kindness is fully appreciated.”

Since the campaign’s launch nearly four weeks ago, support from within the community has been widespread, with backing coming from other families who have suffered the loss of a loved one, schools, businesses, colleges, convicted drink-drivers and driving instructors, as well as the public.

But to have enlisted the support of the Prime Minister is seen as a major boost to keep the campaign in the spotlight through the new year.

Mrs Morrish added: “His openness and willingness to look at the matter and give it future consideration is just what we wanted to hear. We would still encourage people to spread the word well into the year and join up to the Facebook group.”