The discussion over whether it was appropriate for an English MP to bring her baby to a parliamentary debate has highlighted the need for adequate childcare and parental leave, employment experts say.
Stella Creasy was reprimanded for bringing her three-month old son to a debate in Westminster Hall. She said she was forced to do so in the absence of paid maternity leave for MPs.
House of Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle has subsequently announced a review of the rules around bringing children into parliament, saying: “This House has to be able to function professionally and without disturbance. However, sometimes there may be occasions when the Chair can exercise discretion, assuming that the business is not being disturbed.”
Equality law expert Kate Dodd of Pinsent Masons said the real issue was around flexibility and proper access to maternity leave and pay for MPs, rather than bringing children into the workplace.
“This to me is quite a specific case – because maternity leave and pay is not available, and there seems to be scant reasons given as to why breastfeeding MPs can’t participate in key votes and other matters from home, when it was perfectly possible to so during the height of the pandemic,” Dodd said.
Dodd said Creasy’s situation was reflected in workplaces across the UK.
“We are seeing increasing instances of employees trying to work without adequate childcare in place, often because they did so during the pandemic, out of necessity, and are unable or unwilling...
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