A fresh attempt to ban smacking is being led by a senior Labour MP with support from nearly 50 backbenchers.
Kevin Barron, chairman of the health select committee, is trying toforce an amendment to the Children and Young Person's Bill, due to comebefore the Commons next month, by appealing to the Government's chiefwhip for a free vote.
Under current law, parents may discipline children with a smack thatdoes no more than cause a temporary reddening of the skin.
The backbenchers are asking fellow MPs to support a free vote on thegrounds that treatment of children is a moral issue and should not besubject to a Government whip. The move follows an unsuccessful attemptat a ban in 2004 when 47 Labour rebels defied the party whip.
