To ask if MP's should be allowed to take children into parliament?

[parentingperson]

I know that we are becoming more progressive and all, but I'm not sure I agree with a baby being brought into the parliamentary chambers where debates and policies are made. My reasoning is that I couldn't take my child into my workplace. I wouldn't be able to fully concentrate on the job at hand and when I am at work, I am there to work.

Thoughts?

She can use the heavily (taxpayer) subsidised on site crèche. Or leave the child with her husband just up the road in Walthamstow. Or pair on votes. Etc etc etc

Babies in the workplace are a nuisance.

YANBU!

I’m looking forward to a male MP being outraged that he can’t take his well behaved Alzheimer’s suffering parent in when he is speaking.

MP's getting maternity pay? Fine. (Quick note - the nasty horrible Tories changed the law on this one...)
MP's taking babies into the chamber? Not fine, in the same way that it wouldn't be fine in any other workplace.
Also, having seen the infantile behaviour at PMQs especially, is it the right place to a baby?

It REALLY would help if some posters read the point she is actually making rather than the headlines - which obviously do as headlines do!

She is banging a drum for locums, this is all part of the campaign, there's a bigger agenda. I still don't think it is appropriate to have a baby in the workplace, democratically elected or not.

Women all over the world have to make choices around feeding/pumping and childcare (I had something that plugged into my car cigarette lighter and pumped on my journey to and from work).

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/29/stella-creasy-threatens-legal-action-over-lack-of-maternity-cover-for-mps

Oh! OK then! If that's as far as you are prepared to think about it!

@minipie

Aren’t MPs now able to attend parliament remotely? Couldn’t she do that?

No they aren't.

@AtillatheHun

She can use the heavily (taxpayer) subsidised on site crèche. Or leave the child with her husband just up the road in Walthamstow. Or pair on votes. Etc etc etc

Yes ^

www.parliament.uk/about/how/covid-19-proceedings-in-the-house-of-commons/chamber-proceedings/ this says they are, except for votes?

sorry that was to daimbars

I think it should be compulsory for MPs to take their babies to work - I would pay to see Boris and Jacob RM with their children slung around their necks whilst debating. Not entirely serious here, before anyone takes offence.

She’s making a point. The main one being that she can’t get maternity cover and therefore her constituents are not fully represented during her six month absence.

She can proxy vote but if at any time during her six months leave she wishes to speak on behalf of her constituents in parliament then she loses the right to her proxy vote effectively ending her maternity leave.

What she is asking for is the right to employ maternity cover.
If we want the parents of young children representing us in parliament then we need to look seriously at how we can cater for them. A crèche/nanny service for a few hours while they speak/the option of maternity cover/ maintaining their proxy voting ability if they need to speak in that six months.

@iloverainandrainbows

Yes but did you get paid maternity leave? We are not talking about a toddler here, but an exclusively breastfed baby. Her job cannot be done by a temporary member of staff as if she does not turn up to debates, her constituents are not represented.

She can get paid maternity leave now

There is also a nursery on site

How many other mothers could use the same excuse, that their job would not get done or people represented if they are not there? Lots

Sorry she chose to have a child knowing the restrictions. She accepts what’s available, or does paid childcare like the millions of other working mothers in this country

@Hoowhoowho

She’s making a point. The main one being that she can’t get maternity cover and therefore her constituents are not fully represented during her six month absence.

She can proxy vote but if at any time during her six months leave she wishes to speak on behalf of her constituents in parliament then she loses the right to her proxy vote effectively ending her maternity leave.

What she is asking for is the right to employ maternity cover.
If we want the parents of young children representing us in parliament then we need to look seriously at how we can cater for them. A crèche/nanny service for a few hours while they speak/the option of maternity cover/ maintaining their proxy voting ability if they need to speak in that six months.

A crèche /nursery is available

She is not doing working mothers any favours

EITHER nursing mothers are allowed to bring their infants into the chamber and operate as normal during the standard maternity leave period, OR there needs to be maternity cover, so that the MP’s constituents continue to be represented.

They can’t have it both ways, as they seem to want to currently. A solution needs to be found that takes account of the fact it is now 2021 and women of childbearing age have as much right to stand for parliament as anyone else.

@minipie - not any more

Looking after a child needs 100% of your attention. Breastfeeding deserves 100% of your attention. Sitting as an MP in the House of Commons, deciding on laws that will affect the lives of people, how much they earn, what offences they can be imprisoned for etc. definitely requires 100% of your attention. Nobody should be allowed to bring a child into the chamber.

@Pazuzu - it wasn't PMQs

She’s talking about paid maternity cover not leave. Meaning that while she goes on maternity her work just remains…undone?

I think it’s fine with newborn babies personally because they mostly just sleep so wouldn’t cause any issues. Once they’re mobile, they shouldn’t be there.

Nobody should be allowed to bring a child into the chamber.

Her point seems to be that she doesn't really want to, what she wants is to be able to pay for work appropriate maternity cover.

That was from listening to her talk over Jeremy Vine rather than reading an article.

@TractorAndHeadphones

She’s talking about paid maternity cover not leave. Meaning that while she goes on maternity her work just remains…undone?

I tink that has been glossed over in the articles and isn't being fully understood.

@HarrietsChariot it’s laughable you think all of those MPs are giving 100% attention to those things on a daily basis when they’re in the HOC even if they don’t have a baby attached to them.

I’m holding my sleeping 2 month old now while watching House. The baby is probably getting 10% of my attention and House 90%. I think the baby in question was asleep.