A Sussex MP has vowed to continue campaigning to close a legal loophole which allows parents who kill their children to get away with murder.

Dr Des Turner said it was now highly unlikely MPs would have a chance to consider his amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill at Westminster tonight.

A raft of amendments have been tabled by Home Secretary David Blunkett, who last night suffered a rebellion by 33 Labour MPs over plans to limit trials by jury.

Mr Blunkett's amendments will be discussed first and Dr Turner does not think his attempt to change the law will be reached before the Bill has to leave the Commons at the end of today's session.

But Dr Turner said he would make a fresh attempt to close the loophole by asking a Peer to re-table his amendments when the Bill is discussed in the House of Lords.

The Brighton Kemptown MP said: "The Government has said many times it wants to act on this.

"If we don't get the chance tonight I do still think we ought to test out what the ministers have said. Closing the huge hole is long overdue."

Home Office Ministers pledged to change the law at the "earliest possible opportunity" after a three-year campaign by The Argus.

Dr Turner's amendments would introduce a maximum jail term of 14 years for "failing to protect a child" from harm.

The Argus - backed by MPs, Sussex Police, councillors, the NSPCC and families of murdered children - started the campaign after shortcomings in the law prevented two Sussex couples from being charged with murder.

They escaped justice because of a legal loophole in cases where it is clear one or more people are responsible for a child's death or injury but it is impossible to say which one.

A Brighton couple, jailed for cruelty to five children, were originally tried for murdering three babies but the case collapsed in 2000.

And murder charges against Simon and Michelle McWilliam whose adoptive son John Smith, four, died in their care, failed at the committal stage.

Dr Turner's amendment would make all the people involved guilty of a new charge of "failing to protect the child". The maximum sentence would be 14 years.

As a defence, people would be able to claim they did "all that it was reasonably practical to do" to prevent death or injury.