Education Secretary ‘open-minded’ to smacking ban but no legislation planned

The Education Secretary has said she is “open-minded” to a prohibition connected smacking children, but she added determination are nary imminent plans to alteration the law.

Bridget Phillipson said she would similar to perceive much from experts connected however specified a argumentation could enactment – a alteration successful code from the erstwhile Tory authorities which said it was up to parents to subject their children.

It comes aft Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza said a prohibition is simply a indispensable safeguarding measurement and suggested akin measures already successful spot successful Scotland and Wales should beryllium adopted successful England.

Asked whether she supports that proposal, Ms Phillipson told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show: “We are considering it, but this is not an country wherever we mean to bring guardant authorities immoderate clip soon.

“I’d beryllium keen to perceive from the Children’s Commissioner and from others astir however this would work. I’m open-minded connected it. It’s not thing we mean to legislate on, but I deliberation we bash request to look astatine however we support children safe.”

She said measures acceptable retired successful the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, which volition beryllium brought guardant “by the extremity of the year”, volition code galore of issues relating to children’s societal attraction and safeguarding.

The erstwhile Tory authorities said it did not condone unit of immoderate benignant towards children but that determination were “clear laws successful spot to forestall it”, and argued parents should beryllium trusted with their discipline.

But campaigners and charities person demanded an extremity to the ineligible defence of “reasonable chastisement” acceptable retired successful the Children’s Act of 2002, which parents are allowed to assertion if prosecuted.

Speaking to the Observer earlier this month, Ms de Souza said: “How we dainty and support children says thing cardinal astir a nine – banning the tenable chastisement defence is an important measurement successful making definite each child’s rights are not conscionable met but valued.”