Baby Leave for Members of Parliament

Debate between Harriet Harman and Mike Gapes

Thursday 1st February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Ms Harman]

I certainly do agree and I congratulate my hon. Friend. I am looking forward to meeting the new arrival.

The reason we are proposing this change now is that the House has changed profoundly in its attitudes and its membership. Now, many men want and expect to play their part with a new baby.

[Mike Gapes (Ilford South) (Lab/Co-op)]

In 1993, when I informed the Chief Whip that my wife was going into hospital and that I intended to be at the birth, I was told, “That’s alright, as long as you’re here on Monday night to vote on Maastricht matters.” As it turned out, my daughter was born on the Sunday, and I was able to leave the hospital, come in and stay until 2.30 am. The dilemma applies to men as well as to women.

[Ms Harman]

It really does. It was unacceptable then and it is even more unacceptable now.