Britain’s Nanny State stands guard:

BICKERING PARENTS TO GET STATE THERAPY

COUPLES who squabble outside the school gates could be advised to take relationship counselling under a government initiative to stop parents arguing in front of their children. Social workers, teachers and child health visitors will be told to regard dissent in the household as a sign of poor parenting and to direct argumentative couples to special classes to teach them how to behave.

The government is to offer the relationship classes after studying research which showed that children who come from households where parents regularly fight are less likely to achieve. Couples on the verge of splitting up and those who publicly argue will be advised to attend the relationship lessons where they will be taught conflict resolution and how to deal with problems without upsetting their children.