MP launches diatribe against teenage pregnancy
Thursday, 5 March 2009 5:35 PM
By politics.co.uk staff
A Labour MP has launched an angry diatribe against teenage mothers on his blog.
Despite criticism from some quarters, Glasgow South MP Tom Harris said the issue should be put in the public domain.
The former transport minister described how when his wife gave birth in hospital two years ago, a 16 year old girl was in the same maternity ward, with her father speaking proudly of her.
"Proud? Proud that his teenage daughter was not only sexually active but was now a mother?" he wrote.
"Proud that any chance of a decent education, followed by a decent job, was now remote at best?
"Proud that she was, in all likelihood, about to embark on a lifetime of depending on benefit handouts for her and her child?"
He continued: "Teenage girls shouldn't be having underage sex. Why? Because it's wrong.
"Teenage girls shouldn't choose to have babies as an alternative to getting an education and a career. Why? Because it's wrong.
"Parents shouldn't teach their children that a lifetime on benefits is attractive or even acceptable. Why? Because it's wrong."
The comments were immediately seized on by Green MSP Patrick Harvie.
"Not a word about sex education. Not a word about the rights of the women Tom is so keen to judge," he said.
Mr Harris found himself in trouble over the blog last year when he urged Brits to be more cheerful despite the economic downturn.
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