Keir Starmer is under growing pressure from his backbench MPs.
Keir Starmer under pressure from his MPs (Image: Getty)
More than 60 Labour MPs have urged Keir Starmer to back a social media ban for under-16s. The MPs, including select committee chairs, former frontbenchers and MPs from the right and left of the party, are putting pressure on the Prime Minister as calls mount for the UK to follow Australia’s precedent.
In a letter organised by Labour backbencher Fred Thomas, the MPs said: “Across our constituencies, we hear the same message: children are anxious, unhappy, and unable to focus on learning. They are not building the social skills needed to thrive, nor having the experiences that will prepare them for adulthood.”
They added: “Around the world, governments are recognising the severity of this crisis and taking action.” Noting existing or pending legislation in Australia, Denmark, France, Norway, New Zealand and Greece, they said: “We believe the onus must be placed on technology platforms, not parents, to prevent underage access. We would support a model similar to Australia’s that requires companies to take meaningful steps to enforce age limits.”
Peers in the House of Lords are set to vote on the issue this week.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said “momentum is shifting fast” towards a social media ban for under-16s.
The Conservatives have said they would ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, if they win power.
Ms Trott said: “The Government should act. Credit to the Labour MPs calling for action, alongside parents, teachers & health professionals who want change. We can do this. Labour must back our amendment on Wednesday.”
The Prime Minister’s position will be put to the test on Wednesday when peers vote on an amendment to the Children, Wellbeing and Schools Bill, proposed by Conservative member John Nash, which would enact an age limit within 12 months of the Bill’s passage.
However, Tory Peer and former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Frost hit out at the proposal.
He said: “All the worst decisions in this country get taken when government and opposition agree and actual debate is squeezed out.
“There was a time when the Tory party would have considered endorsement of their proposals by Labour and by public sector lobbyists as a red flag, not a reason to proceed. But those times seem to be a long time ago.
“Can’t we at least pause and learn from the Australian experience rather than rushing in ourselves to do exactly the same thing?
The Labour government has also stopped short of an England-wide ban on smartphones in schools, instead saying headteachers should decide. But ministers are considering time limits on the amount of time children can spend on social media.
