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CHILDREN'S BILL INTERVIEW: A Bill built on compromise - Margaret Hodge MP, minister for children, young people and families

3 mins read
"I'm a bit knackered," confesses Margaret Hodge as she begins her umpteenth interview of the day. "I got up at 5am because I had a ridiculous GMTV interview to do."

The exhausted children's minister was speaking after touring studios and holding a major press conference to launch her eagerly awaited Children's Bill.

Hodge had plenty to say last Thursday, but on the evidence of the Bill she's clearly been in listening mode. Parts of it are unrecognisable from the green paper she launched only in September. Hodge sees no reason to apologise.

"We just listened to what people have said to us," she says. "When you're embarking on a radical transformation it is vital you work with the stakeholders, and that's how I want to take this forward.

"We had many representations so we've given greater flexibility over timeframes. I'd like things to happen yesterday but, of course, I recognise some of this will take time.

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