Child smacking rebellion fails

She defied the government whip yesterday and voted in favour of a total ban on hitting youngsters.

But the rebellion failed, with a majority of MPs instead backing a plan to tighten the law but allow "reasonable chastisement".

Ms Drown criticised the Childrens Bill, saying it did not go far enough to safeguard youngsters.

The mother-of-two said MPs should have sent a strong message that physical violence as punishment was not acceptable.

She said: "I agree with the professional organisations working with children which want to see a smacking ban.

"This doesn't mean bringing thousands of parents before the courts but does mean promoting positive ways of bringing up children."

Ms Drown said a similar ban enforced in Sweden had virtually wiped out child abuse scandals.

She said: "I want us to follow that example so children are better protected."

The MP - who ignited a heated debate in Swindon after calling for parenting lessons in school said she understood some mums and dads did not want to be told they could not smack their children. But she insisted it should be outlawed anyway.

She said: "I recognise for many families, it would be a change in terms of the way children are disciplined but it is a change I want."

Ms Drown claimed if children were given the same legal protection from violence as adults, the authorities would be sensible in enforcing the law prosecuting only parents who regularly hit youngsters.

Other MPs who backed Ms Drown's stance cautioned that even under the revamped laws some abusers would have a legal defence of "reasonable chastisement".

This gives parents the right to take physical action against their children but is seen as a loophole for serial offenders.

But government officials shied away from totally outlawing smacking, amid fears it would be accused of trying to run a nanny state.

The Bill would allow mild smacking but outlaw anything which caused visible bruising.