Shadow Health Secretary: ‘Smacking is not immoral’

Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary has expressed caution about the introduction of a smacking ban in England.

Wes Streeting told Times Radio that while Labour’s position had generally been that reasonable chastisement was a matter of “parental choice”, it was also important to review the impact of policies in those parts of the UK that have already banned it.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has dismissed calls for Westminster to follow Scotland and Wales in introducing a smacking ban in England.

Unpopular

Streeting said he had been smacked by his parents as a child, but added: “I don’t think my parents are bad or immoral parents for giving me the odd slap from time to time”.

Commenting on smacking bans in Scotland and Wales, he explained: “smacking has been a traditional part of discipline in this country and given that different parts of the UK are now taking a different approach, let’s just reflect on how that’s working”.

I don’t think my parents are bad or immoral

Parents in Wales who give their child a mild smack now risk arrest and a criminal record under a Senedd ban which came into effect in March. Scotland has criminalised parents who smack since November 2020. Both Governments introduced the bans in the face of widespread public opposition.

Two-thirds of individuals who responded to the 2019 Wales consultation opposed a change in the law. And a survey conducted by the Welsh Government itself found public support for legislation banning smacking fell from 46 per cent to 38 per cent between 2019 and 2020.