THIS newspaper wholeheartedly applauds and praises the Green MSP John Finnie whose hard work has made a ban on smacking children an inevitability in Scotland. We also applaud the Scottish government for backing him and the children's groups which helped shape public opinion on this issue.

Scotland is becoming an increasingly progressive country, often leading the world when it comes to liberal values. Finnie's bill is among the most progressive pieces of legislation ever laid before our parliament.

We stand not only as a beacon of decency to the rest of the UK but to all those other nations which still believe beating a child is acceptable.

This legislation makes it very clear that the weakest in our society will be protected. It states categorically that violence is never a solution.

This is a watershed moment: an entire generation of children will be raised without the threat of violence. They will approach the world and its problems with a mindset that looks to fix problems without knee-jerk force. These children will shape the society they inherit from us having learned that no only is violence never an answer, but it is, in truth, an admission of moral failure.

Finally, the arguments of right-wing tabloids and so-called 'family-values campaigners' that parents should be allowed to beat their children are frankly disgusting. Anyone who believes that beating a child is in any way justifiable or acceptable should seek help for their mental health. If empathy is a sign of mental well-being, then these people are very sick indeed.