Rumours abound about the Conservative Party backtracking on the Coalition agreement to end the detention of children.

The Government’s commitment to end child detention was a significant victory for the Liberal Democrats, who, for a long time, have campaigned on this issue. Our commitment is watertight and the Coalition is already looking at ways it can fulfil the promise.

As we are talking about the safety and well-being of often vulnerable children, it would be in no-one’s interest to rush through changes without having an effective alternative.

It was unseemly that Labour MPs were so judgmental so early. Perhaps they are desperate for people to forget it was them who locked these children up.

Catherine Bearder, Liberal Democrat, Member of the European Parliament for South East England