Every young person in Scotland will be assigned a state guardian, following a vote in the Scottish Parliament today.
It means everyone will be given a “named person” until the age of 18, despite severe criticism from churches, legal bodies and the Scottish Parent Teacher Council.
The Scottish Conservatives tabled a number of amendments, including adjustments which would involve a named person only when there were concerns over issues of wellbeing or safety of a child.
The party also wanted to make those aged 16 and 17 exempt from the legislation, which was contained as part of Children and Young People bill.
Those amendments were rejected.
Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East said:
“This will tip the balance of family responsibility away from parents towards the state – something which most parents find completely unacceptable.
“Forcing all young people to have a named person will, inevitably, dilute the resources available for our most vulnerable children.
“The SNP has told 16 and 17-year-olds they are mature enough to vote in the referendum, but not mature enough to go about their everyday business without having a named person.
“Yet again we have seen a situation where the SNP thinks it is right, and everyone else – including a range of experts – is wrong.”