Reports: UK PM David Cameron leaves 8-year-old daughter in pub

Prime Minister David Cameron admitted that he, his wife and their entourage left their 8-year-old daughter in a pub after a recent Sunday lunch and didn't realize it until they arrived back at the government headquarters. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

LONDON -- British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife left their eight-year-old daughter in a countryside pub by mistake after lunch on Sunday, according to reports.

Cameron rushed back minutes later to pick her up, the tabloid Sun newspaper reported


Nancy had gone to the bathroom when rides were being organized to return home, the newspaper said. 

The prime minister's office said Cameron and his wife Samantha were "distraught" when they realized Nancy wasn't with them, according to the BBC.

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The Camerons had been having Sunday lunch with two other families near the prime minister's country home, according to reports. The prime minister went home in one car thinking that Nancy was with his wife and two other children in a second car, the Sun reported. 

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The child, who was looked after by staff at the 16th-century pub after her parents had left, was separated from her family for 15 minutes, the Sun reported. 

The Sun quoted a pub "insider" as saying: "You'd have thought someone would have done a headcount or something."

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The incident, which was widely reported in the British media, could prove especially embarrassing for the Conservative leader as it came just a day before the government relaunched a so-called troubled families program. The government says 120,000 troubled families are at the root of high amounts of crime and social disorder throughout the country.

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So what? This things happens, I almost left my 8 years old at the Walmart parking lot (thinking that she was in the car). She told me that she had "a couple of minutes of a true freedom" :-)

    Reply#28 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:45 AM EDT

    This is such a non-story. The kid went to the bathroom, the parents each thought the other had her. It's happened before in normal families and no one ever writes a news article about it. Typical crap journalism. Find something more important to write about, guys. Stop with this spiteful bottom-dweller reporting.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#29 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:47 AM EDT

    Seems as if all we get any more is "bottom-dweller" reporting.

    I guess they have to come up with SOMETHING to fill up the 24/7 demand for news.

      #29.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:28 AM EDT
      Reply

      Child abuse and neglect: it's rampant, even in the U.k.

      • 2 votes
      Reply#30 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:03 AM EDT

      Leave him alone...it could have happened to anyone!!

      • 1 vote
      Reply#31 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:03 AM EDT

      no it could not. that sort of thing only happens to bad parents. are you prone to leave your children in dangerous adult environments where controlled substances are being consumed? i hope DHS reviews you!

      • 1 vote
      #31.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:57 AM EDT

      REALLY? Well, if you read the article it said he thought his daughter was with his wife. That doesn't make him a bad parent. A bad parent is if they intentionally left her at the pub. I can see it happening and it being an honest mistake. I think we are too quick to judge others as you are doing :)

        #31.2 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:00 AM EDT

        What do they say about when someone assumes something? It makes an ass out of U and ME? There you go- assumptions; lack of communication; doesn't make you a bad person or a parent but very careless. Thankfully this story had a happy ending.

        PS Head counts don't work- remember the movie Home Alone?? :)

          #31.3 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:51 AM EDT

          bobg, a pub is a "dangerous adult environment"? Please educate yourself on what a pub actually is. It's just a place to have lunch. Would you be freaking out if they had taken their daughter to Chili's? Same thing.

            #31.4 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:54 AM EDT
            Reply

            I remember when I was a kid, my family packed up and went to the grandparents (about a 5 min drive) for a holiday meal and accidentally left my youngest brother behind. Whoops... what do you expect with a family of 7?!?!? No harm, no foul. Sounds like the girl made a couple of pals at the pub too!

            • 2 votes
            Reply#32 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:04 AM EDT

            Maybe there won't always be an England after all?

            • 1 vote
            Reply#33 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:14 AM EDT

            What does that mean?

              #33.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:30 AM EDT
              Reply

              Proof that we're all human and make mistakes.

              • 1 vote
              Reply#34 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:14 AM EDT

              Happened to Jesus once also so she is in good company!

                Reply#35 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:25 AM EDT

                Aisha, Mohammed's young wife was accidently left in the desert. She was found and taken to safety by a young soldier. Some critics suggested that since she had been alone with the young soldier long enough, surely, no question about it, she and he must be guilty. Mohammed was outraged at the suggestion and stood up for his wife. Same for her father. Apparently, Allah also backed her up. Shortly, thereafter, a new revelation of the Qurun, 'though not directly referring to the incident, soundly criticized hasty judgment.

                  #35.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:58 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  This happens all the time to ordinary folks. One parent thinks the other one has the kid. Usually it happens when there are more kids than this, though. I heard of a guy who accidentally left his wife at a gas station. She was sleeping in the back seat, and when he went in to pay for the gas, she got up and went to the bathroom. While she was there, he came out, fired up the car and drove away. My friend chased the guy down. At first he thought my friend was some kind of crazy guy coming after him on the highway, but my friend finally gestured for the guy to look in the back seat. When he did, his mouth flew open and his eyes got as big as saucers. He turned around and picked up his wife. Bet hear got an earful for several miles...

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#36 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:27 AM EDT

                  I'm glad his daughter is ok. In the U.S. we don't have to worry about islamic extremist, but the racist, backwoods trailor trash who are jealous of a black man being president-aka the rightwing republicans. I'm sure they would like to kidnap the president daughters, but I highly doubt that would ever happen-unless they have a death wish.

                  • 2 votes
                  Reply#37 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:28 AM EDT

                  You make a good point, but what does that have to do with the subject at hand?

                    #37.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:31 AM EDT

                    Drrck <<<>>> Has it ocurred to you that it is possible that a person could vote against Obama because of disagreement with his policies, not because of racism? YOUR comment was MORE racist than the accusation you leveled against Obama opponents.

                    • 1 vote
                    #37.2 - Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:03 AM EDT
                    Reply

                    As a man and head of the famlily it is his responsibility to watch out for his wife and children. His wife is also repsonsible, but he is the man and it all falls on him. So man up and do your job! If you aren't looking out for them then who the heck is! He needs to apologized to his family for letting them down!

                    • 2 votes
                    Reply#38 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:35 AM EDT

                    I would bet they both said sorry to their daughter.

                    My 3 year old managed to unlock a door and get outside the house. After going through the house, I ran outside and found him sitting in our dodge caravan "Driving".

                    My Mother "Lost me" in portland maine when I was about 6... I walked off while she was shopping. i managed to get outside the store and was picked up by a nice gentleman that stood at the front of the store holding my hand until my mom found me.

                    anybody here pointing blame or making a huge deal about this must not have kids

                    • 1 vote
                    #38.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:41 AM EDT

                    I agree!

                    Kids have a way of disappearing in an instant.

                      #38.2 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:32 AM EDT
                      Reply

                      Gimmie a break!!!! Is this all the news media has to do?

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#39 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:37 AM EDT
                      Comment author avatarJess Icavia Facebook

                      aww.. whatever, honest mistake, parents do that kind of stuff all the time..

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#40 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:40 AM EDT

                      As a retired CPS Investigator I would have given these parents a pass. Stuff happens and this was obviously a mistake. A fifteen minute oversight which was corrected. The child was not in danger at any point. Unlikely that villains lurk in trees outside of pubs waiting for this.

                      • 2 votes
                      Reply#41 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:45 AM EDT

                      Of course you would. But if it were a tired single Mom who left the child for 5 minutes You'd have recommended that the child be removed.

                      • 1 vote
                      #41.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:00 AM EDT

                      Silverrob, I was a single mother when I was an Investigator. LOL.

                        #41.2 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:14 PM EDT
                        Reply

                        "Pub Alone" ... the movie.

                        • 4 votes
                        Reply#42 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:45 AM EDT

                        LOL! Perfect.... hey, at least the kid was alright. There was a happy ending to the story. ;-)

                          #42.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:59 AM EDT
                          Reply

                          Half a pint from now on for Cammie.

                            Reply#43 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:53 AM EDT

                            What an incredible piece of subhuman garbage he is. How do you miss your own child? He should lose custody of his child. There is no way this is excusable!!!! The type of person who forgets a child like one forgets car keys is wrong. just wrong for parenthood. neglect! prosecute this incredible piece of crap for child neglect!! i wish with all my heart that the queen would decapitate this piece of less-than-trash in the middle of Trafalgr Sq!!!!

                              Reply#44 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:55 AM EDT

                              Yes, Bob. Too bad we're not all perfect like YOU....

                              • 2 votes
                              #44.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:58 AM EDT

                              there is a lot of space between "perfect" and "LOVING YOUR DA_— KID ENOUGH TO KNOW WHERE SHE IS!!!"

                                #44.2 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:00 AM EDT

                                i would like to apologize to clearly defined "trash" for comparing it to something as disgusting as this man. The trash did not deserve that.

                                  #44.3 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:01 AM EDT

                                  Wow bob. It was an innocent mistake that happens to parents all the time.

                                  I would save comments like "subhuman piece of garbage" for those that do things like eat other people's faces. I mean, seriously, get a grip.

                                  • 2 votes
                                  #44.4 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:37 AM EDT

                                  I agree with bobg, to a point (no name calling), if the PM have been a harried single mother who came back for her child, she'd have been arrested and the child put in protective services.

                                  • 1 vote
                                  #44.5 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:03 AM EDT

                                  bobg must have something against authority figures and Cameron in particular.

                                  While I agree that the media is biased in its reporting, there is no need for such vitriol.

                                  • 2 votes
                                  #44.6 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:36 AM EDT

                                  Something tells me bob has 'abandonment issues'....

                                    #44.7 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:46 PM EDT

                                    When my kids were little we had a neighbor named "Bob", he was a know it all, and thought he was perfect...so our kids called each other "Bob" to bug each other....

                                    {whiney voice}....."Mom......he called me BOB"

                                    ....never gets old!

                                      #44.8 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:01 PM EDT
                                      Reply

                                      Sounds like a bad cross between "Home Alone" and a British sitcom....

                                        Reply#45 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:57 AM EDT

                                        Well, I'm so glad that wasn't me because I would be in hand cuffs and sent off to jail immediately. So nice to be in the government and get away with everything. And for the people who think this is nothing, think again. As I said if it were you or me we would be in jail.

                                          Reply#46 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:08 AM EDT

                                          The media is so despicable. The implications of this headline lead one to believe that he was drinking with his 8-year-old and ditched her. The story states otherwise if people even bother to read past the headline. This could have happened to anyone. I'm quite certain he is re-evaluating his security posture because an adversary would look to exploit such a vulnerability. I'm sure they are agonizing over what dreadful circumstances "could have" occurred and are presently taking measures to ensure that this never happens again. I'm glad that their baby is safe.

                                            Reply#47 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:09 AM EDT

                                            The so-called "Media" is disgusting.

                                            There are no journalistic ethics or standards anymore.

                                            Spin anything to get a headline, truth be damned.

                                              #47.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:37 AM EDT
                                              Reply

                                              Good Lord! Parents make mistakes and their daughter is safe and sound. At some point we have to find comfort in the fact that there are many caring people in the world who step up to the plate for a child. Do you have any idea the number of 8 year olds that come home alone after school each day because their parent(s) are working and cannot afford after school care? That's what we should be worrying about.

                                              • 1 vote
                                              Reply#48 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:10 AM EDT

                                              Just came back from vacation where many many British people were at also (in the US) and have never been around so many rude pushy people ever. We had to learn to not be so polite or we would have been shoved aside for all the activities. They were in large groups that could care less you were ahead of them or had small children. Guess they didn't care much for their Queens diamond jubilee cause they were here for their holiday instead. It seems this mother and father weren't clear on who was with whom. All they needed to do was use a cell phone to see if who had all the children before leaving for home, maybe entertaining was more important.

                                              • 1 vote
                                              Reply#49 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:11 AM EDT

                                              So, would you cancel a vacation for the Easter Egg roll or Memorial Day just because it's an annual event? How judgmental.

                                              There are groups of rude people wherever you go. I've seen some pretty terrible American behavior abroad as well.

                                                #49.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:40 AM EDT

                                                Damned furriners!

                                                I won't go to Europe because there are too many furriners there!

                                                Can't even speak American like a civilized person!

                                                sarc/

                                                • 1 vote
                                                #49.2 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:40 AM EDT
                                                Reply

                                                spent time in bristol....london....folks in the pubs were "brilliant!" this happens folks. she was more than safe. foolish on his part?...not sure about that...lil absent-minded yes. perhaps the stress with being pm give the bloke a break.

                                                  Reply#50 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:14 AM EDT

                                                  I agree: I have been to pubs in many British cities and they are awesome!

                                                  Best ale I have ever tasted.

                                                    #50.1 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:42 AM EDT
                                                    Reply

                                                    Where are the whoremonging secret service when you need them? Lol...oh wait...that's the American secret service who are whores. My bad lol

                                                      Reply#51 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:19 AM EDT

                                                      Ooops. things happen. Glad the girl was ok

                                                        Reply#52 - Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:24 AM EDT
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