Lib Dem MSP slams Scottish Government in smacking row

A Liberal Democrat MSP has branded the Scottish Government’s announcement that it has no plans to ban parents from smacking their children a “national shame”.

Liam McArthur questioned the Scottish Government on the “continued legality of the ‘justifiable assault’ defence”, which parents can use in court to defend violence towards a child.

Mark McDonald, minister for childcare and early years, said the Scottish Government would not repeal the legal defence.

Mr McArthur said: “It is indefensible that SNP ministers continue to ignore pleas to provide children with equal protection from assault.

“Why should they have less right to protection from violence than adults living in the same household?”

In response to the written parliamentary question, Mr McDonald said: “The Scottish Government does not, however, wish to see parents unnecessarily or unreasonably criminalised and we have no plans to bring forward legislation to repeal existing legal defences for parents in relation to physical punishment.”

MSP Liam McArthur.