Celebrities urge Keir Starmer to ‘lead with courage’ and ban smacking in England

Sir Michael Caine and Alan Shearer are among the famous faces calling on the Prime Minister to outlaw smacking in England.

The acting legend and former footballer have joined a campaign urging Sir Keir Starmer to be ‘brave and lead with courage and compassion’ in a letter to be handed to Downing Street today (Tuesday, October 14).

The signatories, including actors Natalie Dormer and Samantha Morton, said that in England children currently have less protection from physical harm than adults as smacking is not completely banned.

An ‘outdated and damaging defence in the law still allows a parent or guardian to argue that it is okay to physically harm their child’, the letter said, adding that smacking has ‘no place in 21st century England’.

The letter, coordinated by the NSPCC and supported by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and children’s charity Barnardo’s, said: ‘We believe that it is never “reasonable” to hit a child.

‘It is harm, plain and simple. And the current law sends a dangerous message that striking a child can be excused.’

According to the Children Act 2004, which applies in England, it is unlawful to hit your child, except where it is deemed ‘reasonable punishment’.

There is also a similar defence to smacking in Northern Ireland, but a change in the law there would require the agreement of the Stormont Executive.

Addressing Sir Keir directly, signatories said: ‘Prime Minister, this is your opportunity to be brave and lead with courage and compassion.

‘We ask you to stand up, alongside us, for every child’s right to safety, dignity, and respect. It’s time to end the physical punishment of children in England, for good.’

Campaigners want a ban to be introduced through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.

Bafta-winning actress Morton, who is an NSPCC ambassador for childhood, said: ‘Physical punishment of children is never reasonable, and the law in England needs to be changed to address this.

‘It’s vague, it’s harmful, and it leaves children less protected than adults.

‘I’m proud to stand with the NSPCC at Downing Street today and call on the Government to act to protect children and ensure that the law is clear, equal and most of all, keeps every child safe from harm.’

Wales made any form of corporal punishment – including smacking, hitting, slapping and shaking – illegal in March 2022, while Scotland introduced a similar law in November 2020.

Paediatric consultant Professor Andrew Rowland said that ‘physical punishment of children undoubtedly harms children’s health on a population basis’.

He said: ‘It harms their physical health, places them at increased risk of serious physical assault, it harms their mental health and it harms their emotional health and their wellbeing – all of that is shown in robust scientific evidence.

‘There have been no robust scientific studies that have shown that physical punishment of children has any positive effect.’

He described the current law as ‘Victorian-era’.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: ‘While we are looking closely at the legal changes made in Wales and Scotland in relation to reasonable punishment, we have no plans to legislate at this stage.

Do you think smacking should be banned in the UK? Please send your thoughts and opinions to W.Hallowell.met@metro.co.uk

‘The landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, a key part of our plan for change, represents the most transformative piece of child protection legislation in a generation, including wholesale reform of the children’s social care system and better information sharing between education, health and social workers to stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks.’

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