Stella Creasy was accompanied by her baby boy in the Commons as she warned new mothers are “rebuked” rather than supported when returning to Parliament.
The Labour MP’s newborn was strapped to her as she rose in the chamber to ask Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg to take action.
Ms Creasy, who represents Walthamstow, said: “We know that the Leader of the House is keen to see MPs return to the chambers of Parliament, and indeed the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority refused to fund appropriate maternity cover for myself on the basis that people needed to be able to speak in the chamber.
“Yet today, in order to speak I have had to abandon my baby proxy leave vote or else be reprimanded by the House authorities for speaking in the chamber, making Parliament one of the few workplaces in this country where, when a new mother comes in for a ‘keep in touch day’, she is rebuked, not supported.
“I know some in this place are not fans of mothers in the mother of all parliaments, but I’m sure the leader is not among them, so will he meet with a cross-party delegation of MPs to look at how we can make sure everybody in this Parliament upholds the law on maternity cover and leave?”
Mr Rees-Mogg said it was a “pleasure” to see Ms Creasy in the chamber and congratulated her for the “impeccable behaviour of her infant”.
He noted: “Mine are, of course, perfect in every possible way, but I’m not sure they would have been quiet for the whole time during a parliamentary debate so I congratulate her most warmly.
“The rules provide for maternity and paternity leave and for proxy voting for people who want to take that. But if people want to come into the chamber to be here, of course they’re welcome, and I’d be the last one to deter people from coming in – but I don’t want to put pressure on people to come in, I think it is for them to decide for themselves, as (Ms Creasy) has done.
“I think the rules as they are currently constructed are perfectly reasonable and entirely in line with the law.”
Schools in Walthamstow spent their own money on external counsellors to help children cope with the pandemic – pressed ministers today to reimburse them so not in debt for supporting good mental health. pic.twitter.com/i9zsh24WlK
— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) September 23, 2021
Mr Rees-Mogg said MPs are office holders rather than employees, adding: “We have different rights and different privileges against employees. It is a different role and therefore employment law applies to us in a different way.
“We in fact have many more privileges than most employed people, not because of who we individually are but because of collectively our responsibility to represent the people of this nation.”
Mr Rees-Mogg added he was always open to meeting MPs to discuss issues.