MPs in Britain’s parliament should not bring children into the chamber, a cross-party committee ruled Thursday, following a row over a Labour MP bringing her baby into the House of Commons.
The Procedure Committee report ruled that members planning to observe, initiate, speak, or inter-vene in debates should not bring babies into the chamber, although chairs “will retain a degree of de facto discretion which should be exercised spar-ingly.”
“The firm expectation should remain that Mem-bers do not participate in proceedings while caring for a baby,” it added.
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle ordered the review after Labour MP Stella Creasy brought her three-month-old son Pip with her to debates in No-vember.
Creasy said she was shocked when Commons authorities sent her an email highlighting the existing rules prohibiting bringing children to debates.
Her treatment prompted anger from MPs on all sides and promises of a review of the current rules, which officials admitted had been applied inconsis-tently.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, who also has young children, expressed support for Creasy at the time.—AFP
