Should Breast Feeding Be Allowed In The House Of Commons?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/10/female-mps-breastfeeding-allowed-house-of-commons

I say no, in fact the House of Commons is no place for babies.

No jokes please.

[Old_Geezer]

I think if one chooses to have a baby then that should be the priority, not one's career. One can take time out from that. So the question ought not be an issue.

[Sqad]

O-G....exactly, although now it would appear that one doesn't "choose" to have a baby, one just "has" one.........so to speak.

[naomi24]

No.

[Old_Geezer]

It's their own fault for having a drink with you.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh sorry, no jokes (or was it ?)

[Sqad]

LOL^^

[Retrochic]

No absolutely not - there is no need what so ever for a professional woman to take her baby to work -she either stays at home or employs a nanny to give expressed breast milk while she is a work.

[B00]

Is breast feeding by employers allowed in any other place of work?

[anotheoldgit]

Yes I agree with Old_Geezer, Female MPs get maternity leave just the same as any other working mother, time enough to wean them off the breast in that time surely?

[anotheoldgit]

The Independent chose to enlarge on matters, :0)

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/allowing-breastfeeding-in-the-house-of-commons-would-be-a-progressive-measure-a6730961.html

[Old_Geezer]

Some larger ones, who may also provide nurseries, might B00. Unsure they feed their baby at the desk whilst continuing to work at the PC though.

[Retrochic]

You do not need to 'wean' off babies before going back to work. You can buy mini milk machines to extract your breast milk which can then be either frozen or kept in the fridge. Its a myth that breast fed babies will not suck on a bottle - most will happily take either. What next? A supermarket checkout person with a baby at her breast? Ridiculous!

[Ric.ror]

I think there maybe a creche in the HOP - if so they can leave them in there can't they

[anotheoldgit]

Retrochic

/// You can buy mini milk machines to extract your breast milk which can then be either frozen or kept in the fridge. ///

Can one take them through the 'express' tills?

Oh dear and it was me who said "no jokes".

[Sqad]

Well, don't let's be too hasty.........perhaps we could make an exception:

https://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/Members_of_Parliament/Patel_Priti

[ummmm]

My son wouldn't take a bottle at all.

Like Ric says....if there's a creche then breast feeding should be allowed.

[naomi24]

In the crèche, yes - not in the chamber.

[ummmm]

That's what I meant.

I agree with breastfeeding in public but not at work. It would be too distracting.

[andy-hughes]

As far as providing appropriate crèche facilities, for House employees to be able to feed their babies if arrangements permit, then fine.

But the notion of babies in the Chamber? That is a ludicrous idea.

For the same reason that doctors, fire fighters, TV presenters, office workers, check-out staff, deep sea fishing boat crews and so on and son ....

don't take babies to work - it is utterly impractical.

The notion that a baby will simply lie silently for hours while the House debates, and then murmur quietly before being fed and dropping back to sleep, unnoticed by the Honourable and Right Honourable Members is so farcical as to be a political cartoonist's dream.

"Mr Speaker, I would wish to make my point, but am unable to make myself heard in The House because of the endless racket emanating from the offspring of the Honourable Lady opposite ....!"

If the MP's believe that this idea makes them all modern and PC, then they are even more out of touch than usual with the real world in which the rest of us live!