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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Which lovely MNers can come and serve tea to the great and the good at the Party Conferences this year?

184 replies

KateMumsnet · 08/09/2010 15:17

Hello Everyone

We're joining up with the White Ribbon Alliance to put on another Mum's Cafe at two party conferences this year, in order to highlight Maternal and Newborn Health. Horrifyingly, a woman dies from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth nearly every minute - and 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries.

The Cafe will be very like the one we pulled off with such aplomb at the Houses of Parliament in March, when Carrie spoke so brilliantly to an audience of assorted politicos, activists and the lovely Annie Lennox. Then, some gorgeous Mumsnetters dressed up in fine retro style, pouring tea for thirsty attendees to universal acclaim - and that's exactly what we plan again.

This time non-Londoners will get a look in, with the Labour Conference event taking place on Tuesday 28th of September in Manchester, and the Conservative one the following Tuesday 5th in Birmingham. If you're wondering what happened to the LibDem event, I'm assured that this was all planned much earlier in the year, when the political landscape was rather, ahem, different. Grin

So who's up for dressing up in a pinny, a headscarf and some retro red lippie, and spending an hour or so pouring tea to the great and the good in support of a very good cause? Scroll down our campaign page to see a photo of what, precisely, we're asking of you!

One issue to highlight - the WRA are hoping to start both Mum's Cafes pretty darn early - at about 9am Shock. This is because there is more chance of grabbing the grandees at this hour - so let us know if you can make it then, but also if you could make it, but not that early!

OP posts:
Ingles2 · 09/09/2010 11:33

I know, Elephants...
it's just incredible.
I'm finding this really depressing, actually

mixedmamameansbusiness · 09/09/2010 11:33

Nothing gets people talking like a little silliness. Wish I could do it.

Ingles2 · 09/09/2010 11:34

and then GOML cheers me right up with her cross stitch suggestion Grin

GetOrfMoiLand · 09/09/2010 11:34

It's just the silly assumption that nobody will listen to women on this emotive topic without it being dressed up by women dressing up 'ironically' in pinnies and frocks and serving up tea to the great and good.

Shall we 'ironically' does up these women with 50s levels of valium as well? Slip a bit of gin into the tea? Grin

GetOrfMoiLand · 09/09/2010 11:35

Please sign our petition against Nestle

FioFio · 09/09/2010 11:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 09/09/2010 11:39

Pole dancing for cystic fibrosis? Although TBF at least she is raising money rather than awareness.

I think we should all dress up in gimp suits to draw attention to the No Recourse to Public Funds rule.

GetOrfMoiLand · 09/09/2010 11:42

Lolol at pole dancing for cystic fibrosis - Grin, that's so funny. Perhaps Alan Partridge is working PT for Mumsnet and coming up with the campaign ideas.

Monkey tennis anyone?

Or 'burlesque to end burkhas' (reminds me of Dittany's brilliant descrption of burlesque - 'stripping for chubby middle class goths')

GetOrfMoiLand · 09/09/2010 11:43

OH GOD I just realised that that is a link. I thought Elephnats had made it up as a joke!

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 09/09/2010 12:05

Fraid not GetOrf :o

MNHQ
KateMumsnet · 09/09/2010 12:07

Hello

Thanks for all your posts, everyone - we've taken on board your strong feelings about this. We're going to go back to the WRA and see if we can work something else up, and we'll get back to you when we've had a chance to chew it over with them.

OP posts:
ElephantsAndMiasmas · 09/09/2010 12:11

Anyone else feeling a bit sorry for MNHQ? :o

Ingles2 · 09/09/2010 12:12

nope..
can't believe they'd be so daft tbh..
Grin

GetOrfMoiLand · 09/09/2010 12:15

I think they are sat there reading the reponses and going 'oh for fuck sake, here they go again'. Grin

No, I don't feel sorry for them. They know what we are like, fgs. I did feel sorry for them over the Daily Mail fiasco last year, but not this tbh.

ButterpieBride · 09/09/2010 12:19

I think the cross stitch thing does exist... it is generally called craftivism and they do quite a lot of things- eg they knitted lampost cosies for some reason or another last year in Newcastle. I can see the point as art...

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 09/09/2010 12:27

They had the WI at Million Women Rise, giving out cake to highlight their anti-DV campaign. But that was good because it's the WI plus there was no stupid dressing up which adds a certain pantomime air.

I'm all for dressing up where appropriate (the Surfers Against Sewage giant turd for example, although more of a prop really. How about dressing up as overworked doctors covered in blood? Or offering people rides in a bike ambulance

ItsAllaBitNoisy · 09/09/2010 12:43

Nice one. I'll wind in my fangs now.

sanielle · 09/09/2010 13:21

MNHQ, would a vote maybe make more sense? For the people who are actually offering to help? It's fine saying you don't approve but clearly some people do, and I think their opinion couts more myself.

As I said I can't help anyway so don't expect the fact that I think it is a good idea to be counted either.

Mumi · 09/09/2010 14:01

Again, I do value the workers but it shouldn't all hinge on those who are presumably supposed to represent the rest of us.

sanielle · 09/09/2010 14:40

Surely the people who show up represent themselves and what they believe in?

If Daftpunk goes to a BNP meeting she sure as hell doesn't represent me.

I see mumsnet as a pretty diverse body of people who actually don't have that much in common. Many aren't even mothers (I'm not).

minipie · 09/09/2010 17:33

"I have to say that I don't think some of the more mature politicians will 'get it' other than the idea that 'a darling little thing' poured him a 'super cup of tea'."

Lost track of who posted this, but agree completely.

I'm afraid ironic "post feminist" statements of this nature is premature, indeed risky when there are still so many who will simply take it at face value and see it as perfectly natural that dolled up women are serving them tea.

And as for "palpably silly" - if that is how it is taken, doesn't that undermine the (non silly, very serious) cause a teensy bit?

The white theme is a great idea. Get some teenage boys in to serve the tea and cake.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 09/09/2010 17:56

I agree with GoML - It's rather like the way MN insisted on playing up to the whole biscuit debacle during the election. It wasn't funny, or clever, and made us look like idiotic fools.

cockles · 09/09/2010 18:18

What a repellent idea - however much you like making tea. Anyway it should be mums' not mum's.

Mumi · 09/09/2010 18:45

"If Daftpunk goes to a BNP meeting she sure as hell doesn't represent me."

Well of course she wouldn't, because she would be attending as an individual at a meeting which has no relation to Mumsnet at all.
In this case, however, as Mumsnet is publicly requesting their members to volunteer, others will judge us on their actions whether we like it or not.

Shallishanti · 09/09/2010 18:50

I'll be a post feminist in post patriarchy Wink
sorry if that's been said already

WRA excellent cause, lobbying conferences a good opportunity to nobble some politicians...but a better angle needed