A national conference, organised by the mother of a beaten footballer, will draw together senior politicians and victims from across the country next week.

The conference, which aims to produce proposals for the Foreign Office on how it can better serve British victims abroad, is the result of a year-long campaign by Maggie Hughes, from Wallington.

Mrs Hughes began the campaign after finding crucial FCO support unavailable in the aftermath of a savage attack on her son Robbie, a former Croydon Athletic and Sutton United player.

Robbie was left needing four lifesaving operations after the attack in Malia, Crete, in June last year.

Independent MP for Croydon Andrew Pelling, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for North East Derbyshire, Natascha Engel and Labour MP for Redcar Vera Baird are among those attending.

It is hoped FCO minister Chris Bryant will also attend.

Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington, Tom Brake said: “The priority is to find out what the victims’ families think or feel in terms of the Foreign Office.

“We want to produce concrete proposals that we can take to the FCO to improve their support of people.

“I’m hopeful they will be receptive to the proposals, they have already showed willingness to adapt their website after Mrs Hughes’ suggestions, so we hope this will be another step forward.”

Mrs Hughes added that the conference would also cover binge drinking, violence in the UK, violent Brits abroad and the lack of help available to families trying to deal with the aftermath.

She said: “I’m optimistic about this gathering of like minds. The victims’ families attending this conference have raw feelings and valuable ideas and opinions on how the FCO can improve and it should produce some useful proposals.”

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