Mum and toddler protest in the House of Commons?

[Moozoid]

Every day I am getting more fed with government cuts. I am definately going on the London demonstration on Sat 26 March.

But what about occupying the House of Commons lobby area - Mums and toddlers - maybe having a teddy bears picnic (and some entertainers for the kids, maybe lifesize teddies) to protest against the cuts affecting children and families such as to Surestart, Child Benefit, Maternity wards, services for disabled children, libraries etc. In other words, as per UNcut campaigns, we set up a play (and picnic) area in the House.

Maybe in June, before the MPs have their lovely hols, on a Weds to coincide with Prime Min questions when they have a full house.

Also could do a new version of 'If you go down to the woods (House?) today, you're be in for a big surprise......

My toddler would come and have a lovely time running amok at Westminster.

Anyone else up for it?

I'm going on the march on the 26th.

Your idea sounds fab, do you think it's workable. If it is, I'm in. My kids love a picnic. DS aged 6 has just printed himself a save the NHS T.shirt, bless

We have two medium sized teddies.

I work there.

Please don't cause trouble :(

You'll also need escorting in to Central Lobby and it might look suspicious if you all rock up with picnics.

YOu won't get anywhere near the lobby and if you did try an occupation you will simply be arrested. Your kids will be hugely distressed - right protest but wrong place.

you may be kettled by men on horses with uniforms anywhere near the HOC

It's exploitation to have children hold signs up with political messages as they really have no idea what they believe in, or any of the details surrounding what they are "protesting against".

No - the House of Commons thing wouldn't work. You need a visitor's pass to get in there - you have to apply for one to your MP, giving requested date etc.

An idea which might work would be a local protest outside an MP's surgery, with balloons, placards etc. Invite the local press. They'd be delighted to have a story handed to them on a plate, and there's a good chance it'd make the front page.

Might be difficult with our MP - his surgery is on a busy main road...

I like the idea, though. What about that nice green bit outside the Houses that they're always being interviewed on? Or do you need a pass for that, too?

If you find a way to make it work I'm in

Hello Tanith! I don't want to rain on your parade, but the grassy bit outside the House of Commons where the long term anti war protestor who is currently in hospital has been camping, wouldn't work either, sorry. Definitely not on March 26th - just too many people milling around and either that patch will be off limits because the police wouldn't let you get to it, or - what's the betting they'll have thousands of people trapped there for hours in one of their nice confinement areas?

If you really, really want to be in London, would it be too lame if you had a teddy bears' picnic in St James' Park, the end closest to the Palace, or in Green Park (ditto?) There will be a lot of press around, and there's still be a good chance you'd help with the anti cuts publicity by getting photographed (you'd be most likely to be spotted as your group was on the move, getting there clutching balloons etc.)

The steps of St Martin in the Fields Church is a good and very central spot, but really not a very nice place for little children to have a picnic - they can't run around and if they did they might fall down the steps. It would be an OK place to go and watch what is going on for a while, though. There are likely to be lots of demonstrators in Trafalgar Square (on one side of which St Martin's stands) - but the Church steps are a little out of it, which is what you'd need with small children.

I hope this helps! And it would be good if you can sort something out. Good thinking. Maybe another MNer will come up with other ideas.

Good advice (as always) from Dotnet!

(No-one's exploiting the kids imo - not any more than MPs kissing babies at election time, anyway ...)

TBH I would not take a toddler anywhere near zone 1 on 26th March. My offices are round the corner from Westminster and all the other demos have not been nice. I've found them slightly disconcerting from an adult point of view, and having loads of (sometimes loud) youths wandering round the side streets and so on would terrify the average toddler. The atmosphere is a bit like nightclub turfing-out time - lots of roaming round, generally very good-natured but with the odd spark of something kicking off here and there.

It might of course all turn out to be really civilised, but I wouldn't risk it myself (not even Green Park and definitely not St Martins' steps). FWIW our offices' security have cancelled lots of very boring work things that weekend because of just the very small risk that things might pan out badly.

Further afield than zone 1 will not get you any attention.

I think it's a great idea, but perhaps not this weekend? As others have said, there is a risk of getting caught up in other stuff.