Alan Shearer and Michael Caine join calls for PM to ban smacking

Former England footballer Alan Shearer and actor Sir Michael Caine have joined calls for the prime minister to ban smacking.

The pair are among a host of famous faces and campaigners who have signed a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, which Downing Street will receive later today. It urges him to be "brave and lead with courage and compassion" to end the "damaging and harmful practice".

The letter follows calls from health experts and children's charities for a UK-wide smacking ban. Smacking was made illegal in Wales in 2022 and in Scotland two years prior.

But in England, the Children's Act allows for smacking in cases where it is "reasonable punishment". There is also a similar allowance in Northern Ireland.

The letter - co-ordinated by the NSPCC, backed by the Barnardo's charity and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health - describes it as an "outdated and damaging defence" which has "no place" in modern life. Its signatories want a ban to be legislated for through an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently going through parliament.

Caine: A damaging and harmful practice Italian Job, Zulu, and Batman star Sir Michael said he was "proud" to sign the letter. "Many other countries around the world, including Wales and Scotland, have already changed the law to ensure children have the same protection from being hit as adults," he added.

"Now is the moment for England to join them and draw a line under this damaging and harmful practice." But a Department for Education spokesperson said there are "not plans to legislate at this stage". They added that the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill included "wholesale reform of the children's social care system and better information sharing between education, health and social workers to stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks"..