Tonge: Children are unbeatable

12.00.00am GMT Wed 19th Nov 2003

Jenny Tonge, MP for Richmond Park and Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Children, is supporting a Ten Minute Rule Bill in the House of Commons which seeks to outlaw the physical punishment of children.

The Corporal Punishment of Children (Abolition) Bill was tabled by David Hinchliffe MP on Tuesday November 18th 2003.

Dr Tonge, who will lead for the Liberal Democrats as legislation on children goes through the House of Commons in the forthcoming session of Parliament, will also seek to amend the Government's "Every Child Matters" Bill to make smacking illegal.

A recent MORI poll for the NSPCC showed that 45% of MPs now support a change in the law to give children protection from assault, with 35% opposed and 15% undecided, so the possibility of winning a free conscience vote on the subject is strong.

Dr Tonge said: "I suspect that many of us have smacked a child at some point - but that does not make it right - or even an effective means of discipline. Hitting children is wrong and the law should say so."