to not want someone who is not even a mother to speak on behalf of mothers

[MollyRoger]

No thanks, Gina hun. We can speak for ourselves

In what way did you find Nick Clegg's comments patronising?

Someone called morag is attacking mumsnetters now.

"By bidibidi Sun 31-Jan-10 18:32:58
Mumsnetters definitely are not declaring that they will decide the next election; there's a lot of media hype about politicans appealing to the 'Mumsnet' type voter, but it's just media hype. Nobody on this website* (not even MNHQ) has claimed to have much political influence.

(*okay, no statements that I've seen, anyway)"

it's on the website bibidbidi at least it was when I first joined. Click to Home.

I'm not blaming anyone because it's a great PR thing to keep the name up there I suppose. It's just very similar to the Gina Ford thing

Anyway, we're back to this blardy premise that only women will use their vote for the party with the best family friendly policies.

Not men obv.
Who speaks for them? What will they do without a non-appointed non-political pundit translating their imagined worries and concerns for them?

Do men purely vote based on the important "sciency based" stuff or the bits with the numbers and bombs attached?
All the stuff which we fair ladies don't understand or aren't able to follow??

Are we now so poor at representing ourselves and our views that we need GF to speak for us?

Argghhh

Yes, accdoring to Morag (Times Comments) Gina is sticking up for working class mothers as everyone on Mumsnet is middle class.

You're right Activate, I don't usually look at homepage. But then again, it's just a quote from an article, isn't it? It's not MNHQ claiming "We ARE the top political force for voting parents in the UK" is it?

...Unlike the claims made by some childcare gurus about their own worldwide (and not even merely UK) popularity.

Oh god the photo scared the life out of me

Love to know how many WC mums fork out the £60 annual charge to join her website.

£60

I would just like to congratulate the OP on perfect passive aggressive use of the word hun.

Everyone on MN is middleclass {ooh, it seems I have gone up in the world}.

"Ford was last night preparing to post a letter on her website to Andy Burnham, the health secretary, warning that new mothers were being left ?bewildered? by the attitude of some NHS midwives and health visitors hostile to her techniques".

You couldn't make it up!
That article is so funny.
Why does she do it to herself?

Mumsnet, qualified health professionals, politicians......

Ha!...Deep down i always knew I was middle class dontcha know.

What gets on my nerves is the fact she is trying to represent parents, she cant even represent herself as a parent because she's not one! ffs

I would also like to add imho she looks like an adult cabbage patch kid!...how creepy

Thinks she knows where the fries went.

CrypticTiggaxx

She is a stupid.....no - won't go there because every time I post on the subject of GF I get deleted (well my post does anyway).

But sufficient is it to say that - no Ginababe - you do NOT speak for me.

....and if Morag wants to come along I will show her the view from my window which is in an upper floor maisonette on the local sink estate - middle class indeed. I should be so lucky.

Opinionated and outspoken maybe... but don't think I can call myself middle class.

Oh fgs, Gina, when will you ever learn just to bugger off.

By all means write your books if you must, but don't for one minute think you have any right to have a say on these issues.

YOU ARE MAKING YOURSELF LOOK EVEN WORSE.

"Ford was last night preparing to post a letter on her website to Andy Burnham, the health secretary, warning that new mothers were being left ?bewildered? by the attitude of some NHS midwives and health visitors hostile to her techniques".

would this be the website you have to pay £60 a year to be able to view, hmmmm spot the flaw in her statement!

I watched the programme on a few years ago (before I had DS) called Bringing Up Baby where they had the couple who did the very strict routine. As much as I can gather, it may have been based on GF routines? (Wording carefully in case I get sued)

Anybody who says that you can't look at your baby and only hold it for 10 minutes a day is not speaking for me. My DS does have quite a strict routine but it is one that he fell into himself and I find it easier for us both to stick to it. And this was only after his first birthday. I could never do the whole 4 hours feeding routine etc. And for what its worth, a midwife at my hospital did tell me that my DS should wait 3-4 hours between feeds, as he had been feeding every 2 hours and the midwlfe that took him overnight was feeding on demand (like I wanted). I also had a HV that told me to distract my DS if he wanting feeding too soon! So GF, there are health professionals who are not "hostile to your techniques".

Funnny thing is, I find it hard to take advice from anyone who has never been a parent themselves.

Uh oh, am I critisising GF? Will I get sued and the thread get pulled!

The above opinions are those of Coldhands and in no way reflect on the opinions of MNHQ.

"She doesn?t believe politicians should be telling parents how to bring up their babies.?

but she can

god never thought I would agree so strongly with Nick Clegg about anything.

No bringing up baby was claire verity - put the babies in the garden (50's?), vs dr spock (60s) vs attachment parenting (70s)(continuum concept?).

GF was not included. She did however react very strongly against claire verity's methods which some found hilarious interesting, saying they were cruel.

It's funny that one person can create so much emotive debate at the mere mention of her name.

Seems to me that (as others have pointed out) that her massive GINA FORD ego gets in the way of her actual techniques.

If she could calm down and not take herself so seriously (and accept that there are other ways for people to parent their children) then she might not create so much fuss.

I think she does herself no favours whatsoever by thinking that her way is the only way. She actually called Nick Clegg 'stupid'.

She is one highly strung laydee!

yay they posted my comment

I've now retaliated to Morag's freedom of speech tosh...

Oh and before the words 'parenting guru' are used to describe her in any article, I wish they'd insert the words 'self-proclaimed'.

Not all mumsnetters are middle class.
I'm sure there's at least 1 posh bird who posts and my DH is as common as muck...

She doesn't speak for me...I hated her book, I thought it was unnatural.

Heheh... I started a thread about this this morning, over in politics...
Nice to see the comments below the article... I imagine most of them are mners.

I'm actually not bothered about someone who doesn't have children representing parents - ie a childless midwife campaigning for better postnatal care. I just don't want Gina Ford doing it. On the grounds she is a mad bint.