Breastfeeding in public - email your MP

[wessexgirl]

I have just emailed my MP to urge him to sign the new Early Day Motion preventing harassment of mothers who breastfeed in public. If you want to do the same go to www.unicef.org.uk/campaigns and there is a standard letter you can fire off to your MP.

There is also a list of MPs who have already signed to spare you the embarrassment of contacting one who has already put their name down.

No reply from my MP yet. Not surprised since she's only supporting ONE EDM atm.

I emailed my MP on Monday and have heard absolutely bog all.

Have emailed my MP pointed out that as he is chair person for cons Human rights committee surely this is a basic human right for mums to choose where and how to feed their babies

Enclosed some examples of "wet" responses that some of you have had back and suggested that these were not appropriate reasons not to sign. Now just got to wait and see!

I emailed mine. He replied and said that he was a supporter of breastfeeding but didn't mention the 'in public' bit. Hmm, have replied to him. He also said:

"I believe that the Private Members Bill on this issue was talked out recently on a Friday when I had an engagement in the constituency and couldn't be there so there is no chance of the Bill now becoming law."

I don't really understand.

How annoying! I can't find anything that says when it is up for discussion, I though it was early 2006?! Anyway, after 2 weeks, no reply from my MP through 'writetothem.com' so I've sent a message through the Unicef website, tagging on a moan that he (Ben Wallace) hadn't replied.

springerspaniel it means that there will be no time to debate the bill and so it will not become law now. Talked out means that there was a debate and there was no vote. This is par for the course for priavte member's bill, i.e. if they are not sponsored by the government there is no time set aside to debate and vote so they are unlikely to become law.
your mp was saying he/she was not in the House of Commons when this happened;
prob the only thing to do now is to lobby to get the bill made government policy so get a proper chance ot being made law.

Bah! Why does anyone table these motions then if they never get debated?

they do but only a small perecntage with widespread cross party support, it is the only way something canbecome law unless it's govt policy

Crikey, earlier I told you I wrote to Mother and Baby mag... Have had this reply:

"Thanks so much for your email.

Unfortunately we work a long way in advance on magazines, and were unaware of the motion at the time of going to press.

However, we have been supporting a change in the law to stop discrimination against breastfeeding mums for a while now, publicising an organisation called 'The Way Nature Intended.'

I am happy to include the details you supplied us with in the next issue of M&B (March), which will be out in the shops in February, and encourage our readers to contact their MPs on the subject.

Thanks again for getting in touch. "

Sooooo, we are certain the EDM has been discussed then? I need to write back and come up with something suitable. Any help gladly received!

bump

LOL some very funny posts on here.
my mp is a woman and had already signed so i emailed to thank her - nice of me i thought

my oldest is 2.5 and next is 1.5, last (we hope ha ha!) due in january. was only ever asked once to stop bf'ing or move out of an (empty) dining room to do it... other half and i were so shocked that the manager had even said it that we were speechless, not a common ocurrence for either of us i assure you after we picked our chins off the floor we just left, giving the v embarrased waitess a tip coz she made a point of apologising for her bosses wankerish-ness, bless her.

intend to be INdicreetly (sp?) bf-ing in public as much as pos in a few weeks time and am DYING for someone else to give me any aggro for it... tho i bet they finally do on a day when wit and sharp tongue are on holiday or asleep or something again grrr.

Yay my MP! Got written reply today, dated 12th December

"Thank you for your email. I believe that breastfedding is an important part of a baby's nutrition (it was certainly part of my own children's). Recent studies done by the World Health Organization recommend that, where possible, breastmilk should be a baby's main source of nutrients. Statistics have shown that only one in five babies in the UK are fed by breastmilk, one of the lowest within Europe. Unfortunately, some mothers have ceased to feed their babies in public due to harassment and discomfiture. I have signed the Early Day Motion 1046 to support them. Thank you for writing to me.
Dr Vincent Cable"

what a dude

Wow Good old Dr Vince what party is he?

he's LibDem - he's who would be their Chancellor of the Exchequer if they got into power.

I emailed my MP 5 Dec, still no reply. How long has it taken all the other MPs to reply, and has anyone else not had a reply yet?

Message deleted

Cut and pasted from the NCT email group

Our chance to change the law on breastfeeding

For the first time in England and Wales, there may be an opportunity for MPs
to vote to protect women's right to breastfeed when they are out and about.
MPs David Kidney and Annette Brooke have tabled four new clauses to the
Health Bill, which would legally protect women's right to breastfeed in
public places. These amendments will be discussed at a standing committee on
Tuesday 10th January 2006. The government will decide whether they want to
take on the amendments.

We need you to write to Caroline Flint MP calling for the government to
support these clauses:
Caroline Flint MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health
Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London SW1A 2NL

Points that you could make in your letter:

• Your own experiences if these are relevant

• Women should feel comfortable when breastfeeding out and
  about with their babies, but all too often, this is not the case. A survey
  on the NCT website in 2004 found that around half of respondents (mainly
  pregnant women and new parents) think that most people disapprove of women
  breastfeeding in public. A subsequent NCT survey in 2005 found that 63% of
  breastfeeding women had been subject to unsupportive comments or behaviour
  from other people. Sadly, some women choose to express milk or use formula
  when they are planning to be out of the house, rather than risk
  discrimination.

• The Infant Feeding survey in 1995 found that half of all
  breastfeeding women had never tried to breastfeed when they were out of the
  house. Younger, more disadvantaged women are less likely to try to
  breastfeed when they are out.

• Many MPs believe that women's right to breastfeed in public
  should be legally protected: 108 MPs have already signed Annette Brooke MP's
  EDM 1046 on Breastfeeding in Public Places.

• We believe that legislation which would support, promote and
  protect women's rights to breastfeed in public would help the Government
  reach its target to increase breastfeeding initiation rates by 2% a year.

• I am asking you to support the new clauses to the Health
  Bill. Women in Scotland already have the protection of the law when it comes
  to breastfeeding in public; it is time for the Government to provide this
  protection to women in England and Wales.

Breastfeeding co-ordinator
The Infant Feeding adviser post in England is due to end early next year. It
would be good to include reference to the urgent need to appoint a
Breastfeeding Co-ordinator in England (at least full time, with appropriate
authority and budget).

done
let's wait and see what kind of reply I get!

My MP replied and said he would sign, although I checked and he hasn't yet.... however said some nice stuff about his daughter currently bf his grandson and he replied the next working day not bad really (although my husband still says he's a ...tory boy) maybe that's why i like him the
MP not the husband...

I had a reply.

"Thank you for your letter of lst December about breastfeeding and asking me to sign EDM 1046.

There are hundreds of EDMs put down every year. Often I will agree with most but not all of the sentiments expressed. In general, I only sign those that are directly about

Breastfeeding provides a baby with unique protection from infections and illnesses and is recommended for the first six months of a child's life. This protection cannot be achieved through milk substitutes.

The Department of Health has released guidelines to parents providing them with this information, as well as practical advice for those who struggle to breastfeed their babies but are reluctant to ask for help. A National Breastfeeding Awareness week now takes place every year to promote local awareness of this issue.

It is vital that all new mothers receive support and feel comfortable breastfeeding their child. Those who are unable to breastfeed should also receive advice on the best nutrients for their child. I agree that all mothers should be protected from discrimination if they wish to breastfeed their babies in public.

I appreciate you taking the time to share your views and if there is anything else you wish to discuss then please do not hesitate to contact me."

So if he agrees, then why won't he sign??

Yes, if he is aware of it and agrees then surely it makes sense to sign. I think I would write and say that it is relevant (but not exclusively so) to your consituency. Maybe if you could give some examples of how you/friends of yours feel/your experiences - as suggested in the NCT message posted earlier? I mean, honestly, how many EDM are really going to about his consituency only, unless he has proposed them? Ar$e!

My MP (Ben Wallace, Cons) has failed to reply to both my emails now

Ginger, then write him back, quoting his closing sentences saying:

'I agree that all mothers should be protected from discrimination if they wish to breastfeed their babies in public. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views and if there is anything else you wish to discuss then please do not hesitate to contact me."

and ask him directly why he hasn't signed. he works for you. you have a right to ask and get a straight answer. (difficult thing as it is for a politician)

the smug so and so.

Message deleted