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Infant feeding

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Breastfeeding in public - email your MP

144 replies

wessexgirl · 30/11/2005 12:57

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.

OP posts:
kiskidee · 05/01/2006 13:06

my mp's letter landed on my doormap yesterday. this is what it says:

"Thank you for your letter dated 21st December, 2005 regarding breastfeeding of babies.

I have read, with interest, your remarks and concerns of public perceptions in relation to this matter and I will follow developments with care when this is debated in Parliament.

thank you,2 etc, etc.

sounds like he intends to do eff-all.

Suggestions welcomed on how do to respond.
Firstly, I referred to infant feeding not just breast feeding and spelt out why I think that a deprived constituency like his needs the support to give babies around here a healthier start.

I really want to hear him say yes, I support it, or no you are talking rubbish, not give me some 'no answer' politician tripe that his secretary drafted and asked him to sign.
what can you expect when he knows that he will be reelected regardless if he does eff-all or not.

kiskidee · 05/01/2006 13:07

sorry, i have a doormaT.

LeahE · 10/01/2006 23:54

Well, I got a response from my MP (Justine Greening).

It started off "Dear Ms Ryan,". This is not a good start since my name is not Ms Ryan. Still, maybe it's a term of endearment or something. I'm sure it doesn't mean that this is a form reply she's cut-and-pasted from another one. Only a cynic would suspect something like that.

"Thank you very much for your recent letter regarding breastfeeding. I was very interested to read the pertinent points your letter raises. [but not so interested that I'd take the trouble to get your name right]."

"I find the arguments in favour of breastfeeding compelling." (there follows a paragraph about the benefits of breastfeeding).

"I would like to see a lot more done to promote breastfeeding but to my mind, legislation seems quite a big step to take and most importantly, could take years to pass through Parliament and still not get supported."

[Seems a marvellous cop-out for an MP, that. You could apply that to almost any bill -- 'Nah, it could take years to pass through Parliament and still not get supported, so I won't bother...']

"I think more could be done faster to achieve similar results through a voluntary code of practice." [because voluntary codes of practice have been such a roaring success, historically speaking]

"Such a code of practice could well include a requirement to establish adequate breastfeeding facilities in public places." [except (a) if it's voluntary then it presumably wouldn't be a requirement (unless I've been seriously misled on the definitions of either 'voluntary' or 'requirement') and (b) it's not about 'facilities' for breastfeeding. Am very tempted to reply and use Doesn'tChristmasDragOn's line that 'special facilities are not, in fact, required at all. All you require is a seat and, of course, a pair of breasts.']

"It would be far easier and significantly faster to get a voluntary code implemented than bringing new legislation through Parliament." [it would also be far less effective, but hey, what's that between friends such as you and I, Ms Ryan]

"Also, I wanted you to know that I'll be passing on your views to our Shadow Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley. As a party we'll be reviewing our health policy, so this is good timing for me to be able to forward your suggestions into that process and I very much hope they will be taken on board [huh? My suggestions were that you supported the relevant legislation. And a moment ago you thought that was a bad idea] as we have many young mothers in Putney, Roehampton and Southfields facing these day to day challenges.

harpsichordcarrier · 11/01/2006 00:07

oh Leah what a hoot
apart from it makes me very cross

sazhig · 11/01/2006 00:14

is she tory by any chance? - very worried about the line they are taking with this

harpsichordcarrier · 11/01/2006 00:18

sorry to post this for the millionth time but my MP had already signed the EDM and he is a tory (one of David Cameron's mates)
and he wrote me a lovely email
he's a sweetie actually

hunkermunker · 11/01/2006 00:18

Feel I ought to paste my MP's response again (even though it's only three posts or so down):

"Thank you for writing to me on this subject and bringing the EDM to my attention. I personally need no persuading about the merits of breastfeeding. Increasing rates in the UK would have a material impact on our national health going forward. I am happy to sign the EDM."

He's a Tory too - one of the more impressive ones on this subject, it seems!

Leah - PMSL at your pithy asides, but at the ignorance of your MP!

hunkermunker · 11/01/2006 00:20

HC and her MP, sitting in a tree, K-I-double-S-I-N-G

(Just don't breastfeed him while you're up there, mm'kay?)

harpsichordcarrier · 11/01/2006 00:23

he's sweet actually
wanna link??
what's that I hear??
it's my dear departed commie dad rolling in his grave

hunkermunker · 11/01/2006 00:35

Think I saw your link earlier on this thread? Or another one where you were lusting after him. He looks like...a Tory

harpsichordcarrier · 11/01/2006 00:39

yes
and his eyes are a bit close toegther
god is this the same thread?? it loves forever.
like highlander

harpsichordcarrier · 11/01/2006 00:40

lives forever
am typing like a clumsy crab tonight

hunkermunker · 11/01/2006 00:42

There can be only one!

hunkermunker · 13/01/2006 23:43

Go on, email your MP - you know you want to

hunkermunker · 13/01/2006 23:45

www.unicef.org.uk/campaigns

Gah, link doesn't work. I can't make it work anyway

hunkermunker · 13/01/2006 23:49

Oh, pigslegs - am going to have to vote Tory at the next election - my MP has signed lots of EDMs that I agree with!

Caligula · 14/01/2006 00:23

Oh Leah, please forward that response to your local newspaper, including your pithy asides!

spod · 14/01/2006 19:32

Message deleted

edam · 17/01/2006 09:38

Very disappointed by my MP's reply. For a Tory with a reputation as one of Maggie's most extreme ministers, he's been surprisingly liberal on other issues. And very helpful.

But not on breastfeeding:

'I agree with you that it is wrong to discourage breastfeeding. But there is no legislation before parliament and I am not convinced that changes in the law are necessary or would be effective. In addition, the Deputy Speaker has warned Members that Early Day Motions are in danger of losing all credibility as Members are signing too many.'

So obviously he isn't bothered by police officers harassing breastfeeding mothers, then?

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