It was disappointing and somewhat surprising to hear Tottenham MP David Lammy saying in so many words that last summer's riots could have been prevented if parents were allowed to smack their children without fear of prosecution.
Mr Lammy would like to see a return to the days before the defence of 'reasonable chastisement' was abolished, as he says his constituents now feel they can't use physical punishment to discipline their children in case social workers step in and they might be prosecuted.
Where do you start to take issue with his arguments? The fact is that smacking children is still not illegal in the UK, as it is in so many other places. The changes in the law made a little progress, but the residents of Tottenham can smack their children if they want.
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