Parents need greater sovereignty over their children

One of the debates at the Conservative Conference in October posed the question: “Is Jamie Oliver a National Hero?” My answer is no!

I’m not saying that we should neglect the needs of our Children in order to lead a healthy lifestyle, to the contrary, in today”s society, rich with tempting Double Cheeseburgers, Large Fries and Diet Cokes, children need to be taught how to eat a healthy, but varied diet. And that is not a job for an interfering TV chef who does not the children he is “protecting”.

The appearance of celebrities and politicians complaining that parent are raising their children wrong merely undermines their authority as parents to teach their children how to live their lives.

By all means offer healthy alternatives in schools, but it is up to parents to decide what is put in their children”s packed lunches, and only parents.

Children deserve to have fast-food occasionally as a treat, and it would be just as irresponsible to take away that right. Once again, it is up to the parents to decide how often they are treated.

It is time for the nanny-State to stop trying to control everything, otherwise they are the ones who will lose their sovereignty come the next election.