As "progressive" Britain goosesteps ever further into 1984, yet another story of how the British government really, really, "cares" about the children.

SCHOOLS VET PARENTS FOR CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

Parents who want to accompany their children to Christmas carol services and other festive activities are being officially vetted for criminal records in case they are paedophiles. In the latest expansion of the government’s child protection agenda, parents are checked against a database of people banned from working with children for sex offences and for other reasons.

Among those affected are parents at a village primary school who have been told they must be vetted before they can accompany pupils on a 10-minute walk to a morning carol service at the local church. Other primaries have instituted vetting for parents attending Christmas discos on school premises. Some schools require checks on parents who volunteer to walk with children from the school to post letters to Father Christmas.

Perhaps the British government is mistaking British parents for American politicians?