To think that if you can't remember to take your 8 year old home from the pub then you can't be trusted to run the country?

[PrettyPrinceofParties]

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jun/11/david-cameron-daughter-behind-pub?newsfeed=true

Bbc!

Security fail .

Maybe the 'insider' from the Plough has decided to cash in on the story now.

To me it just shows that he's human like the rest of us.

We've all lost our kids momentarily. I've forgotten to collect my child from childminders/school etc loads of times. My son had to recently walk home in the pouring rain because I forgot to pick him up.

What concerns me more than a genuine mistake like that is it would seem that either the kids do not have their own bodyguard or that her bodyguard was completely negligent.

I know we're not the US where the president and their kids travel surrounded by an army but it seems in the current climate only sensible that our PM and their family have proper police protection. To be honest DC put himself in the firing line by holding public office. But his family didn't. And we all know the best way to hurt someone is not directly but through his family.

Tis being said on Twitter that the timing is related to the Leveson inquiry...

Can one imagine the Pitt-jolie clan and their security leaving a child behind????

"I don't think there' been any 'sneering hatred' on this thread. Certainly not from me. I only have a one year old son at the moment and I can't imagine ever misplacing him (or leaving him in the car) and my hubby is incredibly attentive, so I'm surprised how many people have said it's easily done."

I think you may find that an 8yo is a different kettle of fish from a 1yo in terms of how closely you supervise them. Wait until you have the experience of an older child walking from adult to adult and taking themselves off for a few minutes here and there.

Serious security fuck up, really. I can understand how in a big group of normal people this might happen, but their security should automatically headcount everyone before leaving a premises.
Of course it wouldn't be a big deal if he wasn't PM, but as he IS PM, there ARE going to be people who would rather like to take a pop at him through Samantha, the kids, people who work for him. It could have been anyone who'd been missing, adult or child, and it was sloppy.
Of course the parents should have been clearer, but the security should have been right on top of this, especially as she was in the loo. Has anyone even seen West Wing when the President's daughter gets kidnapped going to the loo? They'd probably be a bit more careful if they had, because if I was in their position I'd be firing those security guards immediately.

DD age 3 developed a line in 'exploration' sans parents which was a nightmare- you cannot believe how far a 3 year old can travel when eyes are taken off at a)weymouth beach b) leicester square c) st malo

She would wait till we were relaxed and check we were not looking before running away very fast, and when asked why would always say she wanted to explore by herself and she knew we would follow. Nightmare nightmare nightmare. Frantic minutes looking for 3 year old. Always sympathised with those parents in Portugal.

I find it a bit strange the little girl was left in the loo though. Normally when driving away from a place there is a head count involving both parents and all children in all cars. Doesn't say anything about what he is like as a PM though. Says more about what he is like sharing the childcare.

From Twitter:

Cameron's PR masterstroke. Establishing a dodgy memory, just before he appears at #Leveson. Quite brilliant.

:o

Is it only me that finds this quite funny?

I think its because I can imagine the "I thought you had her!" / "But she was with you last!" type arguments that would ensue in the average family where this might have happened. Add into the mix that he is PM, he effectively runs the country, they had a security team with them etc and it just becomes farcical.

At the same time though it does introduce a human element to the Camerons.

As someone said early on "Not so shiney now Dave"

I wish we could leave David Cameron behind.

Not read article or the whole thread but what I wondered when I heard this on the news was what sort of car seats they have. Wouldn't you have to use the car with the appropriate seat? It doesn't seem likely that both cars would have seats for all the children as then there would be no room for anyone else.

I've left DD in a shop once when she was quite small - it sounds a bit lame, but honestly when you have 3 or more it can be tricky keeping tabs on them! I find that when I go out with only 2 of them it feels less like a school trip - constant head counts etc

I imagine with everything else they have to concentrate on when out for a PR stunt 'family' lunch its difficult to know where everyone is and whose responsibility a particular child should be. H and I used to say "you have control" when passing responsibility to each other (like pilots do!) to make sure we knew who was expected to keep their eye on them.

I'm not sure he's doing a brilliant job of running the country, but I don't think keeping tabs on your DCs is necessarily the best indicator of suitability to be PM either!

tbh I'm impressed the 8 year old went to the loo by herself.

DD is 11 and still won't do this if we are out.

What's more she has to announce it. 'I really need a wee.'

'Well go and find the loo then.'

'I can't go on my own! Come with me!'

Really? Really?

And THEN I have to hold the door shut for her even if it's locked JUST IN CASE someone tries to open it.

I admire Nancy's chutzpah.

She is obviously used to Getting On With Things.

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE!

PM is a human being with faults!

I'm no Dave fan, but this sort of "journalism" and story is really gutter-dwelling.

And it's raining and I'm grumpy. And hungry. And my hair is frankly, shockingly tufty today.

Now...... whatever happened to environmentally-friendly Mr Cameron on his bike? Two cars for one average sized family... really?!

As for the suggestion that SS would be intervening if this happened to a child of ordinary parents- seriously, how much spare time to people think SWs have on their hands? Even as a committed Labour supporter/believer in high taxes, I wouldn't want to fund that level of state intervention.

I suppose the reason it's being picked up is because the current Conservative party are so very moralising and on their high horses about the parenting of the lower classes. Just like everybody was interested in the sex life of the Tories in the 80s- simply because they were always boring on about other people's sexual immorality. Policitians always get picked up about their particular hobby horse. There was that Swedish politician who lost her position over a couple of Toblerones paid for on her expense account- wouldn't have happened if she hadn't been the one who preached to the taxpayers ad nauseam about fulfilling your financial duties towards the state. The same woman could no doubt have had a very steamy sex life and nobody would have cared- because she left others alone over their sex lives)

Still, I think the present story was below the belt.

Exactly, it's been released as a mischevious reminder that all parents make mistakes, when he's attempting to lay down the law about poor parenting etc.

Doesn't do anyone any harm to be reminded that we're all fallible.

Sorry niceguy but forgetting to collect your child from school or childminders loads of times is not normal.

Just listening to this on BBC London and they have said it's a class issue and I do believe it is. Middle/upper middle it's hilarious - working class and it's a child protection issue.

And I also think that when you are in a group of people it's easier to take your eye of the ball.

*HOLD THE FRONT PAGE!

PM is a human being with faults!

hmm

I'm no Dave fan, but this sort of "journalism" and story is really gutter-dwelling* - This...

Also don't know if its been mentioned but what about her Mum? Is she less to "blame"?

I have three children and I'm completely obsessive about checking where they are all the time. To the point of abnormality tbh!

But it certainly isn't for me to judge the Camerons (even though I can't stand the tories).

"I also can't see why they didn't just walk to the pub."

er, because the road's a twisty, hilly one with blind corners and too dangerous?
Probably also why the lass couldn't walk home again either. We go past that pub a fair bit and we've never stopped (mostly because we're usually trying to catch a train!) but the road really is quite lethal even with a low speed limit.

Ahh yes good point Juan

Christ Merrylegs, would you like to swop DDs

Mine has taken herself off to the loo when we are out since she she was about five. She is 9 now. She has to check out the loos anywhere we go so that includes on holiday. She can ask for the toilets in French Spanish and Italian .

She likes to come out and report back on the quality. I think she will be the author of 'paggirls guide to top quality loos'. She reports on furnishing, number of cubicles etc. She especially likes to loos in harrods.
I am sure I will leave her in a loo one day. But it will probably be deliberate.