I SMACKED MY KIDS BLUNKETT

EDUCATION Secretary David Blunkett last night stepped into the row over playgroup smacking by revealing that he had smacked his own children - and it worked.

His admission came as the Government faced criticism over plans to allow childminders to smack youngsters.

Father-of-three Mr Blunkett said: "I believe that the right to smack in exceptional circumstances should remain with parents and with carers who are carrying out the explicit wishes of parents. I probably smacked my children two or three times over their childhood when I thought it was the only way of getting the message across. It worked at the time.""

Childcare experts criticised the failure to outlaw smacking as "illogical and inconsistent", as it is due to be banned in nurseries and playgroups.

But in a survey, 84 per cent of parents said they, not the State, should decide how childminders are allowed to treat their children.

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