Sponsored by
Smacking never did me any harm says MP
AS the debate heats up on whether it is ever right for parents to smack their little ones, Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning said it did him no harm.
This week the transport minister revealed he was physically disciplined as a child and has even slapped one of his own daughters across the legs.
Mr Penning spoke to the Gazette about the controversial issue in light of Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy saying that smacking is ‘necessary and right’ – a view that has also been backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson.
“We cannot take away parental control,” said Mr Penning. “No one wants to see a child hurt but on the other hand it has to be a matter for the parent.
“There is a difference between a light smack and abuse and I think everyone knows where that line is.”
Before 2004, parents were allowed to use ‘reasonable chastisement’, but the introduction of the Children’s Act specified that mums and dads can smack their youngsters as long as it does not cause ‘reddening of the skin’.
Mr Penning, a father of two daughters, who are now grown up and aged 20 and 22, said: “I do think parents should have the right to punish their children. Their children need to know what is right and wrong.
“I was smacked when I was younger and did it do me any harm? No.”
>What do you think? Is it right to smack your children? Let us know by emailing thegazette@jpress.co.uk
>For the full story pick up a copy of this week’s Gazette, on sale now.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
longtime
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:49 AMThis is all great fun but on a more serious note, does anyone think that behaviour has improved since chastisement of children for misbehaviour has been frowned upon?
PrivateDancer
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:45 AMOrder, Order
golem11
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 02:28 PMBut just imagine how much worse he could have turned out!
Roland Butter
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:34 PMHaving met Mr Penning, I would assert that slapping him as a child seems to have made no improvement whatsoever...
golem11
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 02:54 PMI couldn't agree more. Hot my fair share of slaps on the back of the legs and the odd clip around the ear and it didn't do me any harm either. I don't feel as if I was abused, I've never been in trouble and the last person I hit was the class bully almost 30 years ago. Some measured discipline is sorely needed with some kids, just so long as the punishment meted out is appropriate. Discipline and abuse are very different things.
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.