Wales has now become the second UK nation to introduce a new law that bans the use of physical punishment of children – and England is being urged to follow suit.
Following in the footsteps of Scotland, along with 60 other nations in what has been described as a “historic” move, from today, any type of corporal or physical punishment – which includes smacking, hitting, slapping, shaking and more – is against the law in Wales under the Children (Abolition Of Defence Of Reasonable Punishment – Wales) Act of 2020.
Although physical punishment has been illegal in schools, children’s homes, local authority foster care homes, and childcare settings in Wales for some time, this new legislation that has come into force removes the defence of “reasonable punishment”, which has been in force since Victorian times in England and Wales.
This new law will apply to everybody in Wales – including visitors – and will also cover anyone responsible for a child while parents are absent.
Speaking on the introduction of the new law, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child makes it clear that children have the right to be protected from harm and from being hurt and this includes physical punishment.
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“That right is now enshrined in Welsh law – no more grey areas, no more ‘defence of reasonable punishment’.
“That is all in the past.”
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I am really proud that today we have finally made the physical punishment of children illegal here in Wales.
We must do all that we can to protect our children from harm and this includes physical punishment.
Julie Morgan – the deputy minister for social services, who has campaigned for the law change for more than two decades – also said: “Today is a historic moment for children and their rights in Wales as we make physically punishing children a thing of the past.”
The Welsh government’s website makes it clear that anyone who physically punishes a child will be breaking the law, risks being arrested or charged with assault, and may get a criminal record as a result.
Despite some critics and rival MPs raising concerns that the new legislation will criminalise parents, potentially create a “Stasi culture”, and is “unnecessary, unworkable, and undesired”, Viv Laing, the policy and public affairs manager at NSPCC Cymru Wales, is urging both England and Northern Ireland to follow suit, saying the two countries are now “outliers”.
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Wales has become the second UK nation to ban the use of physical punishment of children / Credit: Welsh Government
She said: “In Wales, as in more than 60 countries around the world, we will no longer tolerate physical violence against children.
“Until now, children were the only group in our society who it was acceptable to strike in certain circumstances [but] we don’t allow the physical punishment of adults or animals, so it is absurd that we have for so long with children.”
Featured Image – Welsh Government
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Middleton to receive a cinema and Metrolink as part of regeneration plans
Thomas Melia
Greater Manchester town Middleton is about to undergo a huge facelift thanks to a new regeneration project, including a new cinema and Metrolink tram station.
Middleton is one of many bustling communities that make up the borough of Rochdale, and with these new plans, the town might receive a fair few new visitors who want to know what it’s all about.
The Greater Manchester town is undergoing a huge transformation with regeneration plans confirming that Middleton will receive a brand new cinema complex along with an extended Metrolink line as part of the Bee Network expansion covering this area.
This is all thanks to Middleton teaming up with the Mayor to launch the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which pushes forward regeneration plans for the town and future ideas.
Middleton Shopping Centre right in the heart of the town centre.Middleton Town Centre bustling as the markets take place.Credit: Steven Haslington (via Geograph)/@Rept0n1x (via Flickr)
The MDC considers lots of aspects of the town and even aims to create new homes and improve surrounding public spaces.
Middleton regeneration plans have been floated previously, but complications arose due to a lack of land and available funding, which ultimately brought these foundations to a halt.
Now it seems the green light has been lifted and Middleton is about to get a whole new facelift, which will not only improve the town economically but aesthetically too, along with the wider Rochdale region.
For many Middletonians, the idea of a cinema may have felt like a distant memory, with their last big screen location shutting down just over a decade ago.
This all-new high street regeneration will not only bring an array of shopping favourites back to the town centre but also the long-awaited return of a local cinema. Most importantly, the plans also include a slate of new housing, with an estimated 300 apartments set to be created in one building alone.
Early CGIs of the proposed Middleton regeneration plans.Grade II-listed Warwick Mill looks set to be turned into flats.Credit: Publicity Picture (supplied)
This all falls in line with the ‘Atom Valley scheme‘, which has been commissioned in order to generate over 20,000 job opportunities for people in Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.
The scheme also mentions how it aims to bring a combined economic boost of around £1 billion to these previously mentioned areas.
Rochdale Borough Council leader, Neil Emmott, said: “The development of 1.2 million square metres of employment space around the junction 19 area will help to generate 20,000 high-quality jobs and bring a £1 billion economic boost.”
Featured Image — Publicity Pictures (supplied via Rochdale Borough Council)
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Scouting For Girls announce stacked UK tour with Manchester date
Thomas Melia
British boyband Scouting For Girls are heading out on an extensive UK tour with dates up and down the country, including right here in Manchester.
If the first thing that pops into your mind when you read this headline is “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know how we’ll make it through this”, then you’re on the right side of history.
Nearly 20 years since their single ‘She’s So Lovely’ reached catastrophic heights and had everyone putting on their best Roy Stride accent, Scouting For Girls are heading back on the road.
This UK tour announcement comes two years after their last project, The Place We Used To Meet, reached our ears and was coined by the band as “Our best work since our debut”.
It’s been 18 years since this Brit trio captivated our hearts with their eponymous debut album, which sold over one million copies and went number one on the UK official charts for two weeks.
Whether you know them for ‘Heartbeat’ or ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’, it’s clear to say this band had their fair share of smash hit singles throughout the noughties.
This tour, however, celebrates the sophomore follow-up: Everybody Wants To Be On TV, which went on to continue their legacy and secure them their only number one, ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’, back in 2010.
Now, the boys are treating UK fans to an array of live performances, and if you can’t make one date, fear not because there are 20 different locations for you to choose from.
The group will also be playing the likes of Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and a whole host of other Northern cities, so you have plenty of chances to catch them.
If you can’t wait all the way until March 2026 for your next Scouting For Girls fix, lead singer Stride has his own cameo account where you can get the star to read out a message or even sing you a song: “‘Michaela Strachan’ in full, please?…”
Scouting For Girls are coming to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 21 March 2026, with tickets going on sale next Friday, 2 May at 10am HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
21st March 2022 
