Challenge to guardian law in court

A LEGA L challenge to Government plans to appoint a named guardian for every child in Scotland has been formally lodged in court.

MSPs approved legislation earlier this year which will mean everyone up to the age of 18 will have a “named person” — such as a health worker or head teacher — assigned to look out for their welfare and well-being.

The No To Named Persons (NO2NP) group, spearheaded by the Christian Institute, lodged legal papers to challenge the proposal at the Court of Session in Edinburgh yesterday.

Lawyers for the group have already written a letter informing the Government they are seeking a judicial review of section four of the Children and Young People (Scotland) A ct.

Campaigners say the blanket nature of the named person provisions “constitutes a disproportionate and unjustif ied interference with the right to respect for individual family’s right to a private and family life”.

Simon Calvert, deputy director of the institute, said: “It’s to do with the independence of families and parents not to have state officials prying into their private lives.

“It’s strange a government so committed to independence should be taking it away from families in this way.”

The Scottish Government said the legislation was backed by a wide range of children’s charities.

Picture: PA. The Duke of Cambridge scuba diving with British Sub-Aqua Club members at a swimming pool in London.