There has been a protest at a luxury London hotel today, whose staff told a woman to cover herself up while breastfeeding earlier this week.
Campaign group 'Free to Feed' organised the demonstration outside Claridge's, after it put out a statement saying guests should 'be discreet' when breastfeeding.
The hotel's bosses have since apologised to Louise Burns, who tweeted a picture of herself draped in a napkin:
Asked to cover up with this ridiculous shroud while #breastfeeding so not to cause offence @ClaridgesHotel today.. pic.twitter.com/Is8GWUaGag
— Lou Burns (@Andysrelation) December 1, 2014
@Andysrelation We didn't intend to upset you & we regret that you left the hotel feeling disappointed.
— Claridge’s (@ClaridgesHotel) December 2, 2014
UKIP leader Nigel Farrage attracted controversy this week when he said in a radio interview that women breastfeeding should "perhaps sit in the corner, or whatever it might be – that’s up to Claridge’s. It’s not an issue that I get terribly hung up about, but I know particularly people of the older generation feel awkward and embarrassed by it."
He later said the media misrepresented his comments, and that he has no problems with mothers breastfeeding 'wherever they want'.
A spokesperson for David Cameron said the Prime Minister "shares the view of the NHS, which is that breastfeeding is completely natural and it's totally unacceptable for any women to be made to feel uncomfortable when breastfeeding in public."
