MP Beith pledges support for NSPCC General Election campaign to protect children

12.00.00am GMT Fri 19th Mar 2010

Sir Alan Beith, Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick upon Tweed, has pledged to support the NSPCC's 'I stand for children' campaign which aims to make child protection a priority for the next Parliament.

Sir Alan said:

"Many residents have contacted me to raise awareness of the NSPCC's valuable work and I am supporting the NSPCC's new campaign to ensure protecting children is a political priority: I Stand for Children."

The NSPCC's campaign is calling on all candidates at the General Election to commit to a range of child protection measures including:

• Making the internet safer for children

• Continued funding of helpline services for children and for adults concerned about the safety or welfare of a child

• Tackling domestic violence from a child's point of view

• Ensuring that vital child protection reforms are fully implemented and resourced, following the death of Baby Peter and other child deaths since

• Provision of resources for vital therapeutic services for children who have experienced abuse

• Strengthening the role of the children's commissioner in England to act as a genuinely independent voice for children.

The charity's Diana Sutton, head of the public affairs and campaigns unit at the NSPCC, said:

"We need to make sure that the next elected Government keeps child protection high on its list of priorities. By signing up to our campaign, candidates in this next general election can help. The public can play their role by letting the politicians know what they want done."