Demands for rules barring MPs from taking babies into the Commons to be eased are being opposed by female politicians with children, the Speaker has revealed.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle claimed he had been “heavily lobbied” not to alter the regulations during a row about a ban given to Stella Creasy, Labour backbencher.
He requested a review amid an outcry over the Walthamstow MP being told she can no longer have her three-month-old son Pip with her, despite it being allowed in the past.
This case is polarizing opinion. Some MPs believe the rules should be relaxed for mothers of very young children. Downing Street indicated that it sympathized with her case.
But other have accused her of ‘grandstanding’, while a Meanwhile, a YouGov poll found the majority of Britons believe MPs should not be allowed to take babies into the chamber.
Sir Lindsay acknowledged to MPs that there are ‘different views’ on this matter earlier in the week. And last night he told the BBC’s Newscast podcast: ‘I have been heavily lobbied not to change the rules, by other mothers… My phone has sent me texts urging me to not cave.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle claimed he had been “heavily lobbied” not to alter the regulations during a row about a ban given to Stella Creasy, Labour backbencher.
The Walthamstow MP, Pip, was denied permission to take her 3-month-old baby with her despite this being permitted in the past.
After bringing Pip to a discussion on Black Friday regulations, Ms. Creasy (44) was censured.
She also pointed out that she had been permitted to take part in deliberations with her husband in a sling before authorities took a less relaxed stance. She can still take her maternity leave with full pay, but she claims that the Commons rules don’t allow her constituents to fully represent themselves while she’s off.
Sir Lindsay asked the Cross-party Procedure Committee for an examination of the rules to determine if any changes are needed. He and his deputy have said they could exercise their discretion when applying existing measures.
He stated Wednesday that it was “extremely important” for parents to be able to participate fully in parliamentary activities.
Two-year-old Ms. Creasy was delighted to receive the review.
Sir Lindsay admitted that he wasn’t aware of the Ms Creasy warning, but said it was correct and reflected current regulations.
However, rules need to be understood in context. They also change according to the times. He spoke out for MPs.
Ms Creasy, Walthamstow MP said that she hopes this move will’mean some of these rules are reviewed to make it possible for parenting and politics to mix’.
Pip (who is breastfeeding) has attended regularly the Commons along with Ms Creasy’s older child.
Later on Wednesday, at just before 10.45pm, Ms Creasy was seen sitting at a table with pip during the final stages of the Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards in London, the main presentation stage of which finished around 11pm. She was also seen on Lorraine yesterday with Pip, who was sleeping beside her in a bed.
When she was asked on Twitter if she would leave Pip at her parliamentary nursery, which has been rated Good by Ofsted, and provides care for children aged birth through five years, she said: “There are not free creches, I pay for them and they’re great. But this baby is only 13 weeks old so it is difficult to feed him. For now, the baby must be with me as long as there is maternity insurance to protect Walthamstow.
The little-used Commons nursery was set up in 2010 at a cost of £750,000 to make politics more family friendly and initially counted David Cameron’s daughter Florence amongst its pupils.
But an FOI four years later showed it had lost a further £383,500, taking total costs to more than £1million. It is believed that only 10 MPs have used the facility.
The nursery charges £1,278 per child per month for five days a week care for those aged under two, and £1,170 for older children.
The office opens from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. It closes at 10:10pm on Mondays. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday it closes at 7:30pm. It also closes on Thursday at 6.30pm. Friday closes at 6 p.m.
YouGov’s poll showed that 49% believed Ms Creasy was wrong and 35% disagreed.
It was therefore closed last night, when Ms. Creasy attended as an MP the Spectator event.
Dan Fox, an ex-director of Labour Friends of Israel, is Ms Creasy’s partner.
Ms. Creasy participated in previous debates at the Commons chamber as a mother of one of her children. Following the 2019 election, she was carrying Hettie to the swearing-in ceremony.
Scott Benton from Red Wall Tory, a Red Wall Tory MP, criticized Ms. Creasy and asked why her son had to go to work.
The Blackpool South MP stated that parents who are paid less for childcare or who have to manage multiple responsibilities in order to go work get only a small fraction.
“What is it that makes you unique?”
Ms Creasy responded later, saying, “We don’t possess employment rights so don’t need maternity cover to be capable of doing juggling. I therefore have to take my child with me.
“But it’s great to see your support of ensuring that mothers are able to be involved in politics. It is not your nature to be anti-choice for women.
Mumsnet users had a split on this issue, some saying that they won’t allow their babies to attend business meetings while others stated Ms Creasy’s ‘important point’.