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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
GitAwfMayLend · 27/04/2011 21:05

It is certainly indicative of how DC truly feels.

And look at the tosser Osborne laughing next to him.

ASTONISHED that I feel a smidgen (just a smidge mind) of respect for Clegg after seeing his face. Mind you I cannot imagine Clegg telling his impressive wife to calm down, dear.

I think it is fucking risible in this day and age that our parliament debates in such a way. Gives natural advantage to those types which learn how to 'debate' at the Oxford union.

FWIW I tyhink the term wanker is universal - I don't think it is gender specific. I called myself a wanker on the fakekate spoof yesterday for instance.

GitAwfMayLend · 27/04/2011 21:08

I have just skimmed the thread and can't see any reference to 'calling someone is a wanker is gender specific' - must have seen it earlier on another thread.

jenny60 · 27/04/2011 21:09

My outrage is anything but faux, thanks very much. But guess what, being pissed off about this doesn't mean that I am unconcerned about oher issues or think this is the most important issue in the world.

Thanks Hecate and all the others who have posted so eloquently about this being unacceptable behaviour: it is brilliant to see so many people objecting to this blatant sexism.

GitAwfMayLend · 27/04/2011 21:10

Oh, Thatcher was only voted in in a spectacularly managed campaign by Airey Neave - saying yes yes we know that you want another candidate to win, however vote for Margaret in this round, so the tories don't look sexist, you can vote for your preferred candidate in the next round.

I don't think the fact that Thatcher scraped through this can be used as evidence that the tories are pioneers of equality. Fuck me.

alicatte · 27/04/2011 21:14

I just want to say that I do recognise and deplore the sexism in this - but Angela Eagle will, I suspect, just be laughing at him. I find myself inclined to agree.

complimentary · 27/04/2011 21:26

Calm down dearies!! Have you got nothing better to do than discuss this
nonsense! Smile

MrsBairdy · 27/04/2011 21:28

I'm not really understanding the angst on this one - I've come home from a pretty stressful day at work and seen the clip and it struck me simply as DC using a catchphrase, one he's used before (towards men) and in order to inject a little humour into proceedings which were quite frankly descending into farmyard stuff (as per usual for PMQs).

There are so many more important things to be worried about these days, and labour politicians just leave me cold at the moment-I have no time for any of their mutterings considering that they have spent thirteen or so years deliberately and very effectively wrecking our finances. It's therefore a little rich for Angela Eagle to suggest that DC should 'focus on the state of the economy' as her sanctimonious and rather misconceived party political retort to a pretty harmless (if not hugely successful) attempt at humour.

I say get a grip really, don't we have other rather more pressing things to tall about?

Just an opinion, mind.

bringmesunshine2009 · 27/04/2011 21:31

I thought it was funny. I have just retrieved my bra from the flames.

QuelleLeJeff · 27/04/2011 21:31

I wasn't aware that as women we were meant to only deal with the "weighty" issues regarding our sex and ignore any of the "fripperies"

Apologies all.

alicatte · 27/04/2011 21:33

You know I can't remember what the insurance company was called - can anybody help? This is really bugging me.

Lilmeena · 27/04/2011 21:39

absolutely MB - some of the posters on this thread are so over the top it's nauseating - it highlights the fact that some women really do major in minor

Swedes2 · 27/04/2011 21:43

Bennifer Wed 27-Apr-11 13:25:27
I posted this in feminism but think this is appalling, if true.

Insurance company was eSure, iirc.

valiumbandwitch · 27/04/2011 21:44

I think shut up you fucker would have been less offensive. what a dick head he is.

alicatte · 27/04/2011 21:46

Ooh I love that - 'major in minor' - I must use that on DH when he is being 'over the top'.

But seriously, I can see the point about 'humour' being an excuse used to express prejudice, I couldn't see it before I decided to change career but now I really do see how it is used in a playground setting to 'excuse' difficult/unacceptable emotions. I think this was a faux-pas but it does seem to highlight an attitude that I (personally) would rather not see in someone in power. As I said before, I blame his speech writers.

southeastastra · 27/04/2011 21:46

british politics is just so wanky. people are losing their jobs all over the place and bumface cameron is probably loving this, i blame the lack of attention from their mummies and their teddies being taken away too early

alicatte · 27/04/2011 21:48

Thank you Swedes2. It would have bothered me all night.

forkful · 27/04/2011 21:49

I would say that a meaningful apology is key here. Ideally DC could have immediately noted the tone in the HoC and said - sorry actually I shouldn't have said that - I meant to just say "Calm Down", but he didn't.

Since realising that I'm a feminist Grin I've become a lot more aware of my own language wrt to sexism and racism - eg the other day I said about something to DH "that's a bit Irish" - then immediately I said "actually I wish I hadn't said that - it's automatic and I've probably said it for years and not noticed - and it's not nice and is routed in racism so I am going to make an effort not to say it".

NellieForbush · 27/04/2011 22:12

MrsBairdy has he really used this before to men? Who?

MissBeehivingCorgis · 27/04/2011 22:13

I would have been totally pissed off if the same patronising comment had been directed at me at work - the subtext of which was "look at the hysterical woman over there, she can't control herself so shouldn't be here"

JamieAgain · 27/04/2011 22:15

"Faux outrage" is kinda like saying "Calm down dear" isn't it?

Us women with our pesky opinions. Whatever next

smallwhitecat · 27/04/2011 22:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Computermouse · 27/04/2011 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JamieAgain · 27/04/2011 22:23

No, quite right smallwhitecat. I recall 20 pages on pigeons once. Such fun

alicatte · 27/04/2011 22:26

I just saw the clip on the news, he was very rattled. Silly boy - parliament really does remind me of the playground sometimes.

QuelleLeJeff · 27/04/2011 22:30

SWC as I said - we women should be concentrating on much more hard hitting issues - all this talk about us being treated equally - or at the very least not being derided in the Houses of Parliament (The seat of our "Democracy") - should take a backseat. Let's get on with the REAL FIGHT.

Right - off we go. Oh wait...