Mothers turned away for being British
Mothers turned away for being British
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srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

267 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
You couldn't make this up. The UK is officially mental:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-239...

TWO mothers were turned away from a council-funded playgroup after being told the group was for immigrant families only.

Emma Knightley, 25, and Kimberley Wildman, 27, attended the Making Links group with their children Imogen, 21 months, and Olivia, 18 months.

They were stunned when organisers in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, demanded to know the country they were from. The best friends were told that only foreign mothers and children were welcome at the playgroup, which they have accused of discrimination.

Shop worker Ms Knightley, from St Neots, booked a place at the playgroup six weeks ago after it was recommended by a mixed-race friend. She said: "The first thing I was asked about was my nationality and when I said I was British I was told we had to leave. She said 'are you not aware this is for foreign people only?'

"I said I knew it was trying to integrate people into the community but didn't realise that meant British people and their children were banned.

"I felt humiliated. It shouldn't matter what nationality you are, we shouldn't be discriminated against. You wouldn't get away with a British-only mum and children's group."

Trainee midwife Ms Wildman, also from St Neots, chose the group because it was free - other groups in the area charged £2. She said: "They asked me what race I was and I said British. They said I couldn't come in."

Roger Owen, administrator for Making Links, said that it is not a "typical" playgroup and is funded entirely for women from abroad. He said: "We believe there are plenty of other alternatives for British mothers in the town. We had an issue with men turning up and back then we told them the group is strictly for mothers, so it's nothing to do with racial discrimination."

Mojooo

13,291 posts

210 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
oh dear

foreigners will probably get flak when it is probably british people coming up with the idea!!

anonymous-user

84 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Hopefully Roger Owen will be sent on an Equality & Diversity training course (preferably with stonewall biglaugh) before being sacked and the playgroup having their funding stopped as part of cutbacks until they are more 'inclusive'.

You would hope a nurse would challenge this with all the 'diversity training' 'foisted' upon public servants confused

pacman1

7,324 posts

223 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
We are becoming a nation of minorities. This country is fked.

Willie Dee

1,559 posts

238 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
"We had an issue with men turning up and back then we told them the group is strictly for mothers, so it's nothing to do with racial discrimination."

This explanation is lost on me, how has that got anything to do with turning away mothers? (not that this isn't most likely complete farcical reporting anyway)

Du1point8

22,938 posts

222 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Yet if a playgroup did that and said 'sorry non immigrants only' there would be hell to pay

poo at Paul's

14,619 posts

205 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Willie Dee said:
"We had an issue with men turning up and back then we told them the group is strictly for mothers, so it's nothing to do with racial discrimination."

This explanation is lost on me, how has that got anything to do with turning away mothers? (not that this isn't most likely complete farcical reporting anyway)
I think he means they are not just being racially discriminatory, but sexually also.




I think a short but significant puch to the fella's chops would sort him out.

Mermaid

21,492 posts

201 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
If some ex-pats had a similar event in Saudi (or wherever), would they feel uncomfortable with some natives. Serious question.

But I agree, PC has gone bonkers.

srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

267 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
poo at Paul's said:
Willie Dee said:
"We had an issue with men turning up and back then we told them the group is strictly for mothers, so it's nothing to do with racial discrimination."

This explanation is lost on me, how has that got anything to do with turning away mothers? (not that this isn't most likely complete farcical reporting anyway)
I think he means they are not just being racially discriminatory, but sexually also.
Exactly - talk about digging yourself deeper into the mire!

dandarez

14,033 posts

313 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
When I continually say this country has truly 'lost the plot', I keep get people telling me not to be so negative.

But daily prattish evidence of things like this prove it.

Beyond a shadow of ANY doubt!




poo at Paul's

14,619 posts

205 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
And this in the same week as we have some Cornish couple fined £3600 for not letting a gay couple stay!

carmonk

7,910 posts

217 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Mojooo said:
oh dear

foreigners will probably get flak when it is probably british people coming up with the idea!!
Exactly. I'm certainly no fan of immigration, let alone uncontrolled immigration, but a lot of the bad feeling is whipped up by pathetic be-sandalled lentil eating s who, it pains me to say, are part of our own fair stock.

Edited by carmonk on Wednesday 19th January 18:59

Gargamel

16,390 posts

291 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Mermaid said:
If some ex-pats had a similar event in Saudi (or wherever), would they feel uncomfortable with some natives. Serious question.

But I agree, PC has gone bonkers.
I doubt it, by definition if you are open minded enough to choose to live in Saudi, you would surely welcome the chance to meet local people ?

boredofmyoldname

22,655 posts

229 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
"You wouldn't get away with a British-only mum and children's group."

Now I have no doubt that the Daily Wail will have these young women pictured tomorrow and I would bet that they may not be the most middle england amongst us, but she is 100% correct in my experience.





"We had an issue with men turning up and back then we told them the group is strictly for mothers, so it's nothing to do with racial discrimination."

Not just racial but sexual discrimination too, no fathers allowed smells of the all men are kiddy fiddlers panic that always hovers in the background of any childcare envronment.

7mike

3,215 posts

223 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
"Roger Owen, administrator for Making Links, said that it is not a "typical" playgroup and is funded entirely for women from abroad" confused

Sorry, it's been a long day! Does this mean the organisation is funded (presumably by UK tax payers) for women from abroad?
Or funded from abroad for women?

Now this is realy confusing, I need coffee!!

"We had an issue with men turning up and back then we told them the group is strictly for mothers, so it's nothing to do with racial discrimination."

...and he also turned away some short people which just goes to show it's nothing to do with age discrimination

Edited by 7mike on Wednesday 19th January 19:35

Mojooo

13,291 posts

210 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
boredofmyoldname said:
Not just racial but sexual discrimination too, no fathers allowed smells of the all men are kiddy fiddlers panic that always hovers in the background of any childcare envronment.
Can you petition the FA to women to play in the Premier League

Jim the Sunderer

3,261 posts

212 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Mojooo said:
boredofmyoldname said:
Not just racial but sexual discrimination too, no fathers allowed smells of the all men are kiddy fiddlers panic that always hovers in the background of any childcare envronment.
Can you petition the FA to women to play in the Premier League
We need some blokes in the women's league. Might actually see some goals scored.

550Hep

3,135 posts

247 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Mojooo said:
boredofmyoldname said:
Not just racial but sexual discrimination too, no fathers allowed smells of the all men are kiddy fiddlers panic that always hovers in the background of any childcare envronment.
Can you petition the FA to women to play in the Premier League
Hasn't the tired old argument of women and men competing directly in top sports been put to bed a few times now with mixed matches in at least as far as I know basketball, tennis & golf ?

The conclusion being it not as far as I understand it to do with sex or otherwise but level of ability?

If you carry that sexism, ageism argument forward there would be no concept of seniors leagues, divisions etc surely?

Edited by 550Hep on Wednesday 19th January 21:02

grumbledoak

32,571 posts

263 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
"Making Links"? rofl

anonymous-user

84 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
Mermaid said:
If some ex-pats had a similar event in Saudi (or wherever), would they feel uncomfortable with some natives. Serious question.

But I agree, PC has gone bonkers.
I doubt it, by definition if you are open minded enough to choose to live in Saudi, you would surely welcome the chance to meet local people ?
Don't the expats live in guarded compounds? hehe