Labour Party Conference: MPs would oppose any smacking ban

Balls said parents are using smacking less and less frequently to discipline young children: "We published evidence from parents last autumn. There was support to strengthen penalties on parents who abuse children but when we asked parents if the state should ban smacking, 70 per cent said no."

Balls, who was speaking at a Children's Society event at the Labour Party conference, added: "It's very difficult to police a smacking ban in any case. It would be the wrong thing to do for children."