Although the punishment is banned in many kindergartens and schools, 'hotsaucing' has become popular, especially in the Deep South.
The Sun reported that six horse chestnut trees in South Tyneside had their branches removed to stop children hurting themselves when collecting conkers. North East Region Conservative MEP Martin Callanan said, 'This is a case of the nanny state gone mad.'
A similar tone was struck in the Daily Mail when it criticised trade secretary Patricia Hewitt for 'taking the nanny state to new extremes' with her call for women to have babies to prevent economic and population crises. Yet a columnist in The Guardian stressed that what women want isn't more children, but better childcare for the ones they already have.
Madeleine Bunting said, 'There is still only one childcare place for every four children. The aim should be one place for every child over two by the end of the next parliamentary term.'
