on 15 Oct 99, [log in to unmask]> wrote...

>
>>I hear from two
>>different sides that in Uk there would be a law established that is
>>anti-breastfeeding. One
>>said that public breastfeeding has been outlawed recently, another says
>>the nursing for more
>>than 3 years is now considerd to be sexual abuse.
>
>>
>>Could people form UK enligthen me, please?
>
>
>Magda - have you heard anything????

Nope, I haven't heard anything.  To be honest I would be surprised if this
government would do this.  Without getting too political, Harriet Harman (front
bench labour minister type person) breastfed a baby in the House of Commons some
years ago....and is still in the inner circle....

I would say, along with Heather, that it sounds *most* unlikely.  I don't think
we will ever see legislation protecting the right to breastfeed here either.
Remember, this is a country which has seen fit to function for hundreds of years
without a bill of rights, limping along on legislation made by a central
parliament interpreted by judges.

The last I heard was years ago when a tory MP brought in legislation to stop
free samples of man-made breastmilk substitutes being given out in hospitals --
the minister soon thereafter fell from grace and resigned over another issue and
what I heard was that no one wanted to remove the legislation -- even though
they were not in favour of it -- because it would require a politician getting
on his hind legs and uttering the word 'breastfeeding' in the House.

I wonder if this rumour comes from some action taken by the UK Euro-crats/MEPs
with reference to the variety of legislation going through the European
Parliament, some to do with the law on baby milk (touching on some aspects of
the WHO/UNICEF code) and, currently, specialist milks.

If there more specific detail on this rumour I could try trace it by asking Baby
Milk Action if they understand its origin.

Magda Sachs
(well, you did ask)
Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN, UK

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