A FORMER south Essex MP is behind a new campaign calling for privacy laws to be changed in a bid to protect the children of celebrities.

Labour peer Baroness Angela Smith, former MP for Basildon and East Thurrock, wants it to be made illegal for newspapers to publish photographs of youngsters without their parents’ consent.

Her plea comes after Hannah Weller, the wife of rock star Paul Weller, won a High Court battle last year over unpixelated pictures which were published online.

The Weller family were photographed while shopping in California in October 2012, and despite the couple asking the photographer to stop, seven images appeared.

The couple won their case against Associated Newspapers for misuse of private information, winning £10,000 in damages and an injunction against further publication of images of their children, tenmonth- old twins John-Paul and Bowie and 16-year-old daughter Dylan.

Lady Smith, who raised the issue in the House of Lords, said: “It’s common sense, really.

When a child is photographed and named, their face should be pixelated unless there is a good reason for them to be identified or their parents have given permission.

"It should be a parents’ decision, not a newspapers choice.

“Just because their parent is in the public eye, it doesn’t mean the child automatically should be. They are entitled to privacy.

“I’m hoping the Government will take this issue seriously.”

Lady Smith, who is Shadow Home Office Minister, believes civil law could be changed to prevent specific abuses of privacy without threatening free speech.

Home Office Minister Lord Bates highlighted the fact the Government recently introduced a new system of independent press self-regulation.

Addressing him in the House of Lords, Lady Smith added: “If self-regulation is working, why did Hannah Weller have to go to court and why did the judge say the lawneeds clarification?

Will the Minister agree to a meeting in order to understand parents’ concerns and consider how children’s privacy can be protected?”