Outrage as UK millionaire brags about commercial surrogacy

A multi-millionaire has admitted to paying a model to be his egg donor because he didn’t want an ‘ugly’ child.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, who in 1999 became one of Britain’s ‘first gay dads’ alongside ex-partner Tony when they acquired twins via a surrogate, told Stacey Dooley of his use of surrogacy to have children with his desired characteristics of looks.

Surrogacy is a controversial practice which the Government describes as when “a woman carries a baby for someone who is unable to conceive or carry a child themselves”. While it is legal in the UK, commercial surrogacy, where it is done for financial profit, is prohibited.

‘Nobody wants an ugly kid’

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, who has eight children by surrogacy, said: “Nobody wants an ugly kid. Sometimes we get them, but we don’t always want them, and we deal with it and carry on.”

He added: “Most people could do a lot worse than spend one month of their life on drugs to give some embryos for fifty grand.”

He acknowledged the controversy around his statements: “Absolutely. ‘Just buying a baby’, that’s what people will say.”

Exploitation

His comments have received widespread criticism on social media with one person writing: “This guy is a walking advertisement for why surrogacy needs to be stopped.”

Another commenter posted: “Nobody has the right to put a woman’s health, mental health, future fertility, or life at risk. Women are not broodmares. Babies are not pieces of meat to be bought and sold. The level of arrogance, narcissism, and misogyny is breathtaking.”

Another person stated: “Commercial surrogacy is exploitation. There’s a reason most countries ban it.”

Unethical

Concerns have been raised about surrogacy being taught about in schools. According to the Daily Mail, four and five-year-olds have been taught in Personal, Social, Health and Economic education, that they could have a “tummy mummy” and a “mummy and/or daddy who will be their parents”.

In the ‘Where do babies come from?’ module, children have been given “key vocabulary” including “surrogacy” and “donated sperm or eggs”.

Surrogacy Concern founder Helen Gibson said she was “appalled” that the issue was being taught in Reception classes: “Surrogacy is higher risk for severe pregnancy complications, it is unethical, exploitative and highly contentious.”