Parents of children who skip school should have their benefits cancelled, says senior Tory Michael Gove

Tory Minister Michael Gove has warned that the government could relaunch plans to penalize families, but teachers' unions have said targeting education payments benefits would end up harming the children

Michael Gove wants to relaunch plans to punish parents of absent pupils (

Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

Parents whose children skip school should have their benefits cancelled, Michael Gove has suggested.

The Conservative cabinet minister has said the government may reinvigorate plans to penalize families in a bid to improve school attendance.

But teachers' unions have said targeting benefit payments would be counterproductive and end up hurting children.

Mr. Gove said the idea was originally considered by the coalition government under David Cameron, but was blocked by the Liberal Democrats.

The upgrade secretary suggested it could now be reconsidered as part of a move to restore "an ethic of responsibility".

Asked about how the government could tackle anti-social behavior at an event organized by think tank Onward, Mr Gove said it was important to ensure pupils were at the school.

David Cameron first came up with the idea in 2011 when Michael Gove was Education Secretary (

Picture:

Getty Images)

"We need - especially after Covid - to return to an absolute rigorous focus on school attendance, on supporting children to be in school," he said.

"It is often the case that it is truancy or persistent absenteeism that leads to antisocial behavior.

"So one of the ideas that we came up with during the coalition years, which the Liberal Democrats rejected, is the idea that if children are constantly absent, child benefit should be cut.

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"I think what we need to do is think radically about restoring an ethic of responsibility."

But the Headteachers' Union has warned that families must be off...