The Walthamstow MP has learned that she can no longer have her three-month-old son Pip with her, although this has been allowed in the past (pictured)

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle says MPs with babies SHOULD be allowed to bring them into the Commons

by

House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle blessed MPs who are new parents bring their babies to the House during the debates, after an argument involving Labor MP Stella Creasy.

Sir Lindsay said it should be left to the discretion of whoever is in the speaker’s chair at that time – he or one of his deputies – to make a call based on whether the child disrupts the procedure or not.

An argument erupted in November when Ms Creasy was censored for carrying her then three-month-old son Pip as she spoke in a debate.

She stressed that she had previously been allowed to speak in debates with him in a sling, with authorities relaxed.

Although she can take maternity leave with full pay, she maintains that the current House of Commons rules do not allow her constituents to be fully represented while she was away and continued to work.

Sir Lindsay, who has asked the all-party procedural committee to review the rules and determine if changes are needed, told The Telegraph today that he believes “the chairman of the day must make a decision” .

Referring to Mrs Creasy’s son, he said: “I saw this baby come into the room while I was in the chair. And has this affected the debate? No. Was it a calm and peaceful baby? Absoutely. Did it disturb? Not at all. Did it matter to me then? Absolutely not.

The Walthamstow MP has learned that she can no longer have her three-month-old son Pip with her, although this has been allowed in the past (pictured)

The Walthamstow MP has learned that she can no longer have her three-month-old son Pip with her, although this has been allowed in the past (pictured)

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has previously said he has been the subject of

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has previously said he was under “strong pressure” not to change the regulations amid a row over a ban this week against Labor MP Stella Creasy.

What are the rules for MPs who are new moms and dads?

All Members of Parliament must follow the Rules of Conduct and Courtesy of the House of Commons, which were last updated in September.

Under the section on children it says: “You may take babies or toddlers with you into the division lobby and – if necessary to get to the division lobby – take them through the chamber.”

“For safety reasons, you are requested to carry your child and not to bring strollers into the lobby.

“You should not sit in the Chamber with your child, nor stand at either end of the Chamber, between the divisions. “

However, Ms Creasy and other new mothers in Parliament have already taken their newborns – who are often still breastfed – to the House of Commons for debate, as authorities have taken a compassionate stance so far.

The situation is further complicated by the rules governing maternity leave. Members can take leave with full pay. But they argued that this means they cannot participate in votes and debates when they should represent voters.

Earlier this year, the government amended legislation to ensure cabinet ministers are granted six-month maternity leave, to allow Attorney General Suella Braverman to keep her post after having a baby. But the backbenchers did not have access to the same arrangement.

In 2019, the Labor MP for Walthamstow participated in a pilot program which meant that by the time she was pregnant with her first child, she was replaced by a replacement who took over the role while she was on leave.

The post was accompanied by a pro rata salary of £ 50,000 and covered a period of absence of seven months.

They were able to meet with ministers and deal with cases, but could neither vote nor speak in the Commons.

But this summer, parliamentary authorities told Ms Creasy that she could not appoint an alternate MP to cover her second child.

Instead, he was offered £ 35,000 to hire a new junior staff member or promote an existing member of his team.

“What I would say, and I’ll be completely honest with you, is that each president will make a decision.

“Unfortunately, it has become highly political.

“Now it’s up to others to decide, that’s why the committee is looking at it. And then I will have to respect (this decision). ‘

The case polarized opinion, with some MPs saying the rules should be relaxed for mothers of very young children, and Downing Street saying he was in favor of his case.

But others accused her of “high profile,” while a YouGov poll found the majority of Britons believe MPs should not be allowed to bring babies into the bedroom.

Ms Creasy, a mother of two, welcomed the review after receiving an email from authorities regarding rules banning bringing children to debates after bringing Pip to a debate at Westminster Hall.

Walthamstow MP Creasy said she hoped the move “means that some of these rules will be revised to allow parents and politics to mingle”.

Pip, who is breastfeeding, has attended the House of Commons regularly, as has Ms Creasy’s eldest daughter.

Asked on Twitter, she couldn’t just leave Pip at the parliamentary crèche – which is rated well by Ofsted and caters for children from birth to five years old, she replied: “There is no free crèche, I have it. pays and it’s great and i use it for my older child but this one is only 13 weeks old and needs to be fed so not practical.

“Without maternity coverage to make sure Walthamstow is heard, baby has to come with me for now.”

Ms Creasy’s partner is Dan Fox, former director of Labor Friends of Israel.

She has participated in debates in the House of Commons before while carrying one of her two children and, after the 2019 election, was sworn in while carrying her daughter Hettie.

Ms Creasy was criticized by Tory Red Wall MP Scott Benton last month for questioning why she had to bring her son to work.

“Parents who are only paid a fraction of what you pay for child care and are juggling responsibilities so they can go to work,” the MP for Blackpool South said.

“What makes you so special?” ”

Ms Creasy then hit back saying, “We don’t have employment rights so we don’t have maternity cover to be able to juggle so we have to take baby with me.”

“But it’s great to hear your support to ensure mothers can be a part of politics. I guess being anti-choice for women is right in your DNA.

And the issue has divided users on Mumsnet, with some suggesting they wouldn’t take a baby to their own business meetings, while others said Ms Creasy “brings up an important point.”

A YouGov poll found the majority of Brits disagreed with Ms Creasy, with 49% believing MPs should not be allowed to bring babies into the bedroom vs. 35% saying they should .

A YouGov poll found the majority of Brits disagreed with Ms Creasy, with 49% believing MPs should not be allowed to bring babies into the bedroom vs. 35% saying they should .

.

Leave a Comment