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Original poster

David Cameron tells Angela Eagle to "calm down dear" at PMQ

714 replies

Bennifer · 27/04/2011 13:25

I posted this in feminism but think this is appalling, if true.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13211577

OP posts:
QuelleLeJeff · 27/04/2011 17:38

Yes Lilmeena, I'd rather our PM was an 'in your face' kind of bastard.

itsatiggerday · 27/04/2011 17:40

Did no one else read to the end of the article? He's used the comment before, directed at David Miliband. So maybe he needs a new (and slightly less irritating 'cultural' reference) set of comebacks, but I think it would be fair to assume it wasn't intentionally sexist. And I would hate to think most of the behaviour in the House of Commons was comparable in the overwhelming majority of other workplaces, so I wouldn't try to transfer this one for impact.

LDNmummy · 27/04/2011 17:42

Well if DC makes these kind of comments openly lilmeena then I would bet my bottom dollar that we he says when the microphones are off is probably much worse than Gordon Brown.

At least Gordon Brown thought he was being discreet or privately voicing an opinion. DC openly thought it was funny to make this comment openly in front of all his peers and the public.

HecateQueenOfTheNight · 27/04/2011 17:42

I hate the whole thing.

The leaders of our country and those who we elect to represent us, sit around and make hoo hoo noises at each other and act like a bunch of children booing at each other, making silly noises and guffawing at ridiculous comments. It's pathetic.

And now this. "calm down dear" is a very very annoying advert and the whole bloody country thinks they're funny repeating it (they're not). However, I watched the clip and his intent was to patronise. He wanted to shut her up / put her in her place / make her feel small. Now, would he have had that aim if she was a man? I think so. I think that's what their ridiculous yammerings across the house are always all about. To poke fun. To ridicule. Would he have chosen the words "calm down dear" to achieve that had he been talking to a man? Maybe not. But I've heard them all. They are really rude to each other, hurl the most terrible insults at one another - in oh such a subtle, wordy way, but they find a million ways to say that the honorable member is a moron!

Sometimes I think it is all a big game to them. Hmm They hurl insults at each other, they yaa yaa at every comment and you just know that they all sit around together taking advantage of the cheap taxpayer subsidised alcohol and laughing about the jolly japes in the house today good show old chap you really let me have it...

I can't take them seriously because they act like it's all a big game. well it's not. It's not a fun club, it's the running of our country and they have a responsibility to take that seriously and not act like a bunch of bloody kids showing off to their mates.

LadyBlaBlah · 27/04/2011 17:43

LOL @ slavewife and 'slavewife'.

Not offended just shows what an utter twat Hameron really is. His mask is gradually slipping. Gideon never had a mask to let slip - he has always been a sneering little worm

LDNmummy · 27/04/2011 17:43

"what he says" not "we he says".

TethersEnd · 27/04/2011 17:44

Straw man for Lilmeena Smile

MotherSnacker · 27/04/2011 17:47

Hecate that post was even more spot on than usual. Smile

dickdotcom · 27/04/2011 17:47

I'm disgusted by this remark. It's patronising, sneering and sexist. If it was a joke (which i don't believe for a moment) it's not very funny. Along with his remarks on internships last week I think we're now beginning to see the measure of the man: arrogant, supercilious, out of touch and pompous. The upside of it is that it looks as if Cameron is losing his political radar. Blair would never have been so flippant (fwiw I'm no fan of Blair's)

aliceliddell · 27/04/2011 17:47

Cheers, Spud! Heart you back! Hecate - you speak truth and wisdom. Heart you too!

Chil1234 · 27/04/2011 17:48

I thought today was fabulous and hope it heralds a new trend in a more linquistically relaxed House of Commons. Instead of 'my honourable friend' and 'the right honourable member' I'd like to see more use of random terms of endearment. Rather than getting huffy, Eagle should have retorted 'I'm very calm, thank you. How are you, chuck?'... would have brought the house down.

dickdotcom · 27/04/2011 17:48

What Hecate said. Squared.

aliceliddell · 27/04/2011 17:49

And others of similar vein, missed you because X-posted

CatandDyl · 27/04/2011 17:50

YANBU, its totally unprofessional and he wouldn't have said that to a male who was there. Totally disrespectful.

grovel · 27/04/2011 17:57

Well, Ms Eagle was barracking Cameron while he was speaking. I hate that behaviour and also think Cameron's response was feeble.
No-one comes out of this well. Got to say that I find Eagle even more duplicitous than Cameron (have you ever seen her answer questions about what Labour would be doing?).
I'm going to set up the MAGPIE party (Mighty Army of Good People in England) and we'll crush the THRUSH (Thouroughly Horrible Ruthless Useless Social Humbugs) from the Tories and Labour. Sorry to the Scots and Welsh but, hey, you're devolved and MAGPIS sounds awful. MAGPIW sounds just, well, Welsh.

Becaroooo · 27/04/2011 18:02

What hectate said, as usual.

herhonesty · 27/04/2011 18:04

tbh, i work with someone who has used the same phrase alongside others such as " dont get your knickers in such a twise" and he's been told that these phrases potentially amount to sexual discrimination. So Cameron's a tw*t for thinking that that sort of language has any place in mature, intelligent debate. And yes they all sling mud but Cameron as PM should know better.

if this is a more linquistically relaxed House of Commons" then by god how far have we sunk?

GrimmaTheNome · 27/04/2011 18:06

They said on PM on R4 just now that this isn't the first time DC has used the phrase 'calm down, dear'. In that case, to David Milliband, so it didn't generate any of this furore. I really do think its just a silly catchphrase he's picked up not a sexist putdown.

Also on PM they were discussing the case of the rapists in Pakistan who've been released - they were ordered by a 'tribal leader' to rape a woman in punishment because her brother had had an affair. Anyone vaguely interested in feminism or womens rights would be better spending their time and energy on that issue rather than this silliness.

herhonesty · 27/04/2011 18:07

sorry should have written "knickers in such a twist" obv...

monkeyplayszeebongos · 27/04/2011 18:08

i told a bloke on here to 'calm down dear' on a thread once. blimey he was most affronted and called me patrionising. so i guess it's not just women who find it offensive.

TethersEnd · 27/04/2011 18:09

Um... Chil, this is awkward, but... please don't ever do stand up Grin

Blackduck · 27/04/2011 18:12

Hecate - fantastic post and sums up what I was thinking....

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/04/2011 18:13

I thought it was a foolish ape of the incredibly foolish advert, but that's all.

I'm in agreement with the posters here who have said that they expect their politicians, male or female, to get on with the business of sorting out this country. I'm sick and tired and utterly dismayed that some women, in powerful positions, hold themselves up to ridicule by making an ill-advised fuss over something like this. If the woman would have had the wit to come up with a smarting put-down, so much the better, but she didn't, so she bleated... and she's still bleating and still sounding stupid. What a great female role model she is... Hmm

I'm sick of seeing certain posters on this thread who say things like... "I don't know what worries me more... blah blah blah or that women here don't see this/agree with this/agree with me. You're not the spokesperson for women's issues, regardless of what you think. Just because people don't go up in arms over things that concern you does not mean that they don't understand the context of what was said or has been happening and I personally don't want to be told what to think by you.

And to the other poster who thinks that the PM's stupid comment is a reason to vote him out in May, really? Not for bad policies, or failing to deliver or a myriad of other viable reasons, nothing like that... but for immortilising that stupid advert... Wow, just wow. Shock

tralalala · 27/04/2011 18:14

cheers hectate

JoanofArgos · 27/04/2011 18:17

I doubt anyone who would have voted for him before won't now because of this! To those of us who think he's an old school Tory bigot with a shiny woman-hating face, it's grist to the mill..... to people who like Tories anyway, it's nothing to get your knickers in a twist about is it?

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