-
UK MP Stella Creasy informed babies not allowed in Commons

The BBC reported, an MP has said it "has to be possible for politics and parenting to mix" after being told she cannot sit in the Commons with her three-month-old son.
Labour's Stella Creasy was informed it was against the rules to bring a child to a debate at Westminster Hall after doing so on Tuesday.
She said this was "news to me" after attending debates with a baby in the past and called for a review.
The House of Commons said it was "in communication" with Ms Creasy.
The Walthamstow MP told the BBC she had regularly taken her son - who she is breastfeeding - and before him her daughter, into the Commons chamber.

But after appearing with her son at the adjoining Westminster Hall on Tuesday, she received an email from the private secretary to the chairman of the Ways and Means committee, Dame Eleanor Laing, which said this was not in line with recently published rules on "behaviour and courtesies".
Read more: Calculations manuscript by Albert Einstein sold at auction for $13m
Ms Creasy - who is encouraging more mothers to enter politics through a campaign called This Mum Votes - shared the email on Twitter, writing: "Mothers in the mother of all parliaments are not to be seen or heard it seems..."
The rule book, which was issued by the speaker and deputy speakers and applies to the chamber of the House of Commons and Westminster Hall, was updated in September.
It says: "You should not take your seat in the chamber when accompanied by your child, nor stand at either end of the Chamber, between divisions." The same wording was also used in a previous version of the rule book.
But another MP, Alex Davies-Jones, said she had been assured by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle that if she needed to breastfeed her child in the chamber she could do so.
Ms Creasy said this was "not a system that works for anyone who isn't a man of a certain age from a certain background".
"I don't have maternity cover - I don't have the employment rights to have maternity cover," she said, adding the situation as it stands "is bad for our democracy".
Asked what needed to change to help MPs continue to work as new parents, she said: "It's too late for me - so I am trying my best to make sure Walthamstow continues to be heard because it deserves to be heard."
She called for the MPs' rule book to be reviewed and has asked House authorities what she should do if she continues to bring her son to work.
She added: "I've had a baby, I haven't given up my brain or capacity to do things and our politics and our policy making will be better by having more mums at the table."
While MPs are entitled to paid maternity leave for six months and a proxy vote, some have said it is difficult to obtain funding for adequate maternity cover.
And MPs must be physically present at Westminster in order to represent their constituents' views during Commons debates, for example.
Read more: Councils across the UK to be forced to take child asylum seekers
Former Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson was thought to be the first MP to cradle her baby during a debate in the Commons chamber in 2018.
Also that year, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern became the first world leader to take her baby to the floor of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
A House of Commons spokesperson said it was vital all MPs were able to carry out their duties in and around Parliament.
They added, MPs could consult with the speaker, deputy speakers, clerks and doorkeepers about their requirements while in the chamber or Westminster Hall at any time.
Source: BBC
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors Gulf Uni...
- April 17, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!