Sir Keir Starmer planning supervised tooth brushing in schools and vape ad ban in bid to improve kids’ health
SIR Keir Starmer says he will fight for a nanny state to improve kids’ health.
The Labour leader pointed out that our youngsters are fatter than their French counterparts in an effort to get the nation match fit.
Young Britons are also smaller than Haitians and sadder than Turks, his party declared.
Sir Keir said: “Frankly, if this was a parent treating children as badly as the UK government they’d be charged with neglect.
“The moment you do anything on child health, people say you’re going to have a nanny state.
“We want to fight that.”
As part of a health initiative, Sir Keir plans to introduce supervised toothbrushing in schools for three to five-year-olds.
Other aspects of the plan include a 9pm watershed for junk food ads, banning vape ads aimed at kids, and cutting waiting times for hospital care for children.
When asked if the role of parents should have greater prominence than the state, he said: “It’s a bit of both.
“We want to encourage good parenting. But we can’t just turn our back on this.
“The biggest cause of hospital admissions for six to ten-year-olds is decaying teeth.
“That is shocking.”
The toothbrushing in schools plan previously drew criticism from unions who said it was not “the role of teachers to be making sure children brush their teeth”.
Labour will launch their Child Health Action Plan as Sir Keir visits a top kids’ hospital tomorrow.
But health minister Andrea Leadsom said: “Labour’s unfunded promises on healthcare would cost taxpayers billions.”