November 12: Role of women in public life – and dilemma over breast-feeding

GIVEN that women are legally entitled to breast-feed in public, why has there been such a furore after Harrogate’s Jem Henderson was asked by staff at a bar in the North Yorkshire town to be more discreet while feeding her three-month-old son?

Even though there are still some diehards who are uncomfortable with babies even being allowed into licensed premises, this matter has been handled inappropriately and appears indicative of an attitude which should have been consigned to history long ago.

These occurrences are not helped by the continuing failure of Parliament to properly recognise the rights of women as politicians again whether women should have the right to breast-feed in the House of Commons – Betty Boothroyd, the pioneering Yorkshirewoman and the first (and only) female Speaker in history, has previously said that this rule should only be relaxed once a firm like Tesco takes the lead.

There will, of course, be some traditional voters who believe that the presence of babies in the Commons will detract from the importance of the issues being debated, though others will contend that a more family-friendly Parliament might help to improve standards of behaviour and ensure that the proceedings have a greater purpose.

However opposition to calls for breast-feeding to be allowed in the Commons does appear symptomatic of the Palace of Westminster’s inability to move with the times. Whether it be the fact that just 191 of the 650 MPs returned in May were female, continuing complaints about inadequate childcare arrangements or the shortage of toilets for women, there is a sense that Parliament’s complacent attitude towards such matters is out of sync with the far more enlightened country that it purports to serve and the expectations asked of businesses.

If elected representatives cannot lead by example, how can they expect bar staff – and others – to interpret the law correctly? Ms Henderson’s experience, and the attention it has received, underlines the problems that women still face – no UK-wide political party, after all, has seen to elect a female leader since Margaret Thatcher resigned 25 years ago. Surely it doesn’t require this for there to be a significant shift in attitudes?

A false economy

Pupils need good careers advice

THOUGH many students have broadened their horizons as a result of Tony Blair’s government making universities accessible to all, higher education is not a panacea – a disturbing number of young people end up enrolling on courses which are not compatible with their career aspirations.

This is the context to Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw’s assertion that some young people are being “failed” by selfish headteachers who encourage them to stay on for sixth form, and perhaps apply for university, in order to preserve school budgets rather than recommend vocational alternatives which might be more fulfilling and productive.

It should not be like this. The long-term needs of students should always take precedence – Sir Richard Branson was told by his then headmaster that he would either end up in prison or become a millionaire on leaving the elite Stowe School at the age of 16 – but this will not happen unless the Government, with the assistance of entrepreneurs, invests in a careers service which is fit for purpose, and that under-performing schools have the best leadership possible. These wake-up calls need to be heeded.

Esther’s legacy

ChildLine’s enduring importance

LIKE THE Prince’s Trust which continues to change the lives of young people for the better, the same is also true of ChildLine thanks to the unwavering commitment of its founder Dame Esther Rantzen who is helping to recruit new volunteer counsellors in Leeds. A legacy of her acclaimed consumer affairs programme That’s Life, who can forget the haunting television advertisement in 1986 depicting an abused child walking along a dark, rain-swept street in the search of a telephone box in which to call for assistance? Without an individual on the end of the line, such cries for help would have gone unanswered with truly unthinkable consequences.

In the past year, ChildLine has helped more than 7,000 young people in Leeds – testament to both the esteem in which the charity is held and the enduring importance of its work. For this, and also The Silver Line service which now helps elderly people who are at risk of mistreatment, Britain has much to thank Dame Esther.