Labour MPs anticipate 'politically inept' U-turn on social media ban

Labour MPs expect a "politically inept" U-turn from the authorities connected banning societal media for under-16s amid Conservative plans to unit a ballot connected the issue. 

Dozens of Labour MPs are pushing ministers to follow an Australia-style ban, Sky News has been told.

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Many expect the authorities volition determination connected the issue, pursuing unit from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) and the Opposition.

The Conservatives have pledged to prohibition societal media for under-16s and connected Thursday tabled an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would modulate societal media platforms "to usage highly-effective property assurance measures to forestall children nether 16 from accessing services".

This amendment is expected to beryllium voted connected successful the House of Lords connected Monday erstwhile the measure begins its study signifier successful the precocious chamber. It has cross-party support, including the backing of erstwhile Labour MP turned adjacent Luciana Berger.

If passed, that provides a mode for it to beryllium debated successful the Commons. One Labour MP told Sky News determination was "no way" the authorities could whip the PLP against, claiming a bulk are successful favour of the prohibition and Number 10 volition privation to debar different welfare-style rebellion.

They said they expect the authorities to backmost a prohibition but lamented the "political ineptitude" of being connected the backfoot to Conservatives connected this issue.

Other MPs told Sky News that dozens of backbenchers are pushing the authorities to determination to a prohibition and they don't deliberation it volition travel to a rebellion arsenic "the authorities volition bash it".

Some MPs are pushing for the authorities to array its ain amendment that they tin get behind, which would committedness to astatine slightest consult connected an Australia-style ban. But different MP said they were "sick of consultations" and the authorities should conscionable get connected with it.

Many Labour MPs person been vocal successful calling for a ban, arsenic good arsenic Greater Manchester politician Andy Burnham - who galore expect could motorboat a enactment situation against Sir Keir Starmer successful the future.

Fred Thomas, the Labour MP for Plymouth Moor View, told Sky News: "MPs crossed the governmental spectrum recognise the harm that social media is causing to our young people.

"Children are spending sleepless nights glued to addictive platforms, feeding them harmful content.

"We cognize that the caller detonation successful intelligence unwellness among young radical is correlated to excessive societal media use, and it's clip for action.

"I cognize the authorities are looking intimately astatine what is happening successful Australia, wherever tech companies person to forestall under-16s from accessing societal media. I precise overmuch anticipation we volition spot a akin exemplary implemented here."

York Outer MP Luke Charters said: "It's wholly close that we see a societal media prohibition for children.

"I person 2 boys nether four, and similar galore parents I find myself worrying astir the satellite they're increasing up in. Social media is simply a large portion of that interest successful the years ahead, and we can't spend not to enactment portion harm is being done successful plain sight.

"We've each heard stories of children being groomed, bullied, exploited and extorted online, and it's important that we're taking enactment to forestall that harm, and springiness our kids the harmless and steadfast childhoods they deserve."

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The authorities does not presently enactment a prohibition connected societal media for children.

Ministers accidental they are waiting to spot however it plays retired successful Australia, aft it became the archetypal state successful the world to enforce an under-16 societal media prohibition successful December.

However determination are signs of their presumption softening. The premier curate didn't regularisation retired a prohibition connected Thursday, saying "all options are connected the table".

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has besides heavy hinted helium is successful favour of the ban, telling broadcasters determination is simply a "strong lawsuit for enactment successful this area" and "the premier curate encourages that debate".

"On 1 hand, we cognize that societal media tin beryllium a large constituent of connection, and that's existent for young radical arsenic good arsenic the remainder of us. At the aforesaid time, we besides spot the interaction of doomscrolling connected the cognitive, the encephalon improvement of children," helium said.

He said that statement should not conscionable impact politicians but parents and young radical too.

Asked if helium would backmost the Conservatives' amendment if it came backmost to the Commons, helium said: "That's a determination for the premier curate and the acquisition caput but I'm truly gladsome we're having this debate."