Have they no shame?

Caroline Spelman, chairwoman of the Conservative Party, has apparently made an interesting suggestion about the treatment of young people who are unruly.

She told the Western Mail that parents of youngsters who are given community service sentences should be made to undergo community service as well.

The more liberal will doubtless claim that this is the "stocks and pillory" in modern form, but in part these progressives have caused the problem by being soft, albeit in a well-meaning way.

It could be argued that parents who have failed in their responsibility and allowed their children to behave in an antisocial way, even though legally responsible for their offspring, should try to help belatedly to accept their responsibility. The act of picking up litter, or cleaning up damage, or whatever, when done as a family could even bring families closer together.

Caroline used the words, "We think it's quite important....". It will be interesting to see who are "we", because a Party spokesman has stressed that the plan was not official policy(yet?).