Order! Order! The Speaker of the House of Commons could soon be chastising real toddlers – as well as MPs who act like them – if Stella Creasy gets her way.
After her son, three months old, was rebuked by the MP for Walthamstow for coming into a debate with her child, the member for Walthamstow now wants to push for political infants to be permitted into Parliament.
After being photographed with the baby strapped to her chest shortly after, Miss Creasy was emailed by a parliament body informing her of the rules regarding ‘behaviours and courtesies’. These state that you cannot bring a child into Commons.
She fumed, claiming that it was a remark from her. “Apparently Parliament has created a rule which prohibits me from taking my sleepy, well-behaved three-month old baby with me to chamber when I speak.”
The MP has form in bringing babes in arms to the Commons – this is her second child to have made an appearance in these hallowed halls – and has been on the airwaves demanding change.
And almost all her m’learned men-folk – terrified of appearing like sexist dinosaurs – are falling over themselves to oblige.
Dominic Raab, Deputy Prime Minister, said that politicians must ensure that ‘our profession’ is made modern. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle however says that it’s ‘extremely important for parents’ to fully participate in the House’s work.
Stella Creasy launched an effort to have their babies allowed into the Parliament chambers. She was once rebuked by her husband for inviting her three-month old son to participate in a debate.
Scott Benton Tory MP for ‘Red Wall’, fearing that we might be two rattles away from despatch boxes and changing mats, spoke out. He said: “Parents who are paid only a fraction what you pay for childcare, but manage to juggle their responsibilities so they could go to work. Why are you special?
Do not get me wrong. I love Miss Creasy. An energetic and determined MP, she has won some major victories such as stopping payday loan scammers. However, she’s wrong on this.
A baby sitting in the Commons chamber can be just as helpful to Parliament’s proper functioning as a ferret running around on the green benches.
Babies can be a hindrance to clear thinking. Babies are the enemy of clear thought. You are often interrupted by them while they make important points.
This is not a post I wrote to promote children being seen and heard. It’s merely a statement that someone has had three kids in the past three years, and so can joyfully share my joy of seeing and hearing them every day.
While they make great children, their colleagues are not so much. I struggle to even make scrambled eggs while wrangling my brood – so how on earth is an MP meant to participate in debates on great matters of state or focus on the finer points of fiscal policy with a baby pinned to her chest?
They are certainly up there with MPs second jobs. The argument is that members can’t concentrate enough on their day jobs because they’re distracted by other tasks.
The same principle must apply here. Can you really represent your constituents while you’re giving a baby a bath? It doesn’t matter if you have second or fourth jobs; looking after a child is the same as a job.
However, I’m not suggesting that they shouldn’t be mixed with small children. Sometimes they do have to. This is what I do in front of my son, while my toddler sleeps in the back.
While holding my baby, I was able to tap out many articles at once.
Miss Creasy has been an active MP and won important victories like stopping the evil payday loan companies. Clare Foges (pictured), however, believes that she’s wrong on this.
But I don’t feel like Superwoman. This is more a bedraggled, exhausted woman that has been rushed to the hospital by her child. She had poured Cow and Gate porridge powder onto her Mac keyboard. It rendered the ‘u unusable. If I do not press the key hard enough, it will be ‘nusable.
All this takes place behind closed doors. It’s unlikely that I would bring my 8-month-old to a meeting with the public or a facetoface conversation.
Although my life revolves around the babies I love, the rest of the universe doesn’t.
What good is it to make others feel uncomfortable or annoyed by the children’s mutterings about dinosaurs and zoos? Although I enjoy my children’s silly musings on dinosaurs and other zoos, others will not.
The House of Commons, meanwhile, is an exceptional workplace.
It’s the center of democracy and the place where national debate can take place on issues that will affect the lives of more than 67 million people. This place should be revered and respected, not like a crèche.
What’s the point in having just one child? As Miss Creasy asked, you may ask. If she is happy to take her three-month old, then what stops another member from bringing their two-year or four year-old child?
It’s such a sad time that you wouldn’t be surprised to see bringing your child to the Commons become a badge of honor.
Miss Creasy needs to continue championing her much more worthy cause of securing backbennch MPs a period of paid maternity.
All MPs receive full pay while they are on paternity, maternity or adoption leave. However, the absence of MPs can create uncertainty and anxiety in constituents as well as for them.
Let’s hope that Miss Creasy wins that fight – but not the one to get babies on the green benches.