Hugh Bayley's anger at criticism of MPs for taking their children on holiday is understandable. Parents should be able to spend quality time with their children. On occasion, this will entail children missing a few days at school.

Government guidelines allow for this, with parents able to take their children out of school for ten days a year, with the permission of their headteacher.

Mr Bayley, York MP and newly-appointed junior social security minister, did just that. His children are missing four days at school to enjoy a holiday with their father. We are sure they will soon catch up with their lessons once they are back at school.

Responsible parents and headteachers can work together in the best interests of the children. Headteachers are right to discourage children from missing school and parents who flout the system should be brought to book. What they do not need is a nanny state Education Secretary intervening in these decisions.

The Government, quite rightly, is facing accusations of hypocrisy. While David Blunkett urges parents not take children on holiday during term time the Prime Minister, ministers and MPs are doing precisely that.

MPs are not the only busy people who struggle to find time to be with their children. There should not be one rule for MPs and another for the masses.

The Evening Press does not normally bring children into politics. But in this case there is an overwhelming public interest argument to justify such coverage.

The public have a right to know that here we have a government which on the one hand makes public pronouncements about what parents should do when on the other hand some of its own members are doing quite the opposite.

Mr Blunkett should not be allowed to dictate to parents while the Prime Minister and other MPs are so clearly at odds with these policies.

see NEWS 'York MP in row over kids' holidays'

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