cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/6562239

Keir Starmer has said he is “up for the fight” of defending the “nanny state” as he announced plans to improve child health under a Labour government, including supervised toothbrushing in schools.

The Labour leader said that children were “probably the biggest casualty” of the Tories’ sticking-plaster approach to politics over the past 14 years, adding that, if the government were a parent, they could be charged with neglect.

“I know that we need to take on this question of the nanny state,” he told reporters. “The moment you do anything on child health, people say ‘you’re going down the road of the nanny state.’ We want to have that fight.”

Ahead of a visit to a children’s hospital, Starmer criticised the Tories’ record on child health. “They’re probably the biggest casualty of sticking-plaster politics in the last 14 years,” he said. “Frankly, if parents had treated children as badly as the UK government has, they would probably be charged with neglect. It’s that bad.”

  • @tinkeringidiot
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    710 months ago

    We had to do this in Colorado public schools in the late 80s.

    30 years later I’ve got a mouth full of false teeth.

    Not sure it worked out like they wanted it to.

    • @TheDoctorDonna
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      310 months ago

      It’s not going to work for everyone- personally I wasn’t healthy enough to maintain my own teeth and am trying to save up for dentures at 38 but my teeth have been falling out since I was 26.

      If it stops more children from needing dentures as adults it is a resounding success though.

    • @[email protected]
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      210 months ago

      Genetics play a factor. My wife gets cavities like they’re going out of style and she’s very diligent about brushing and flossing. I’m … less diligent and I’ve never had a cavity and still have all my wisdom teeth.

      It’s a total crapshoot, all anyone can do is try their best to take care of what they’ve got.