THEY may be fighting each other on various fronts in the battle for votes in Basingstoke, but candidates from the three main political parties stood together behind a campaign calling for better child protection services.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's (NSPCC) Election Pledge for Children aims to gather cross-party support for increasing the number of walk-in centres and helplines for vulnerable children - and that is exactly what it got.

Parliamentary candidates from the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties put aside their differences to back the NSPCC's appeal last Friday.

Jen Smith, the Liberal Democrat candidate, said: "It's tremendously important to protect children and that is why I've signed up to the NSPCC's previous campaigns and why the full-stop campaign has received tremendous recognition in parliament."

Maria Miller, the Conservative candidate, raised concerns about bullying in schools.

She said: "I think the most important thing is that the NSPCC is raising awareness of all aspects of child cruelty. Up to one in three children are bullied. As a parent and school governor, I find that very worrying."

One of the NSPCC's long-term aims is to stop parents smacking their children - a stance backed by Labour candidate Paul Harvey.

He said: "Violence is never the answer, but parents do have the right to discipline their children as they see fit - provided it doesn't affect the rights of the children."

Matt Collis, NSPCC parliamentary advisor, said getting cross-party support was crucial to the charity's aims. He said: "It's very pleasing to get support from the candidates because what we are trying to do is give children the same protection as adults."

First published: Wednesday, April 27, 2005