Emma Reynolds – Give MPs proxy votes during baby leave

The Wolverhampton North East MP said it was 'only right' that constituents were represented while MPs with new babies were not present in the Commons to vote.

"We should have the choice as to whether to appoint a colleague to vote on our behalf," she said.

"It should be an option. If you become a new mom or a new dad, you should be able to appoint a proxy for the time that you are on leave."

Ms Reynolds also stressed that she it was possible to be an MP and a new parent. She said: "I say to young women out there, don't be deterred. Come in and do it."

The Labour MP was taking part in a debate on a motion on baby leave for MPs.

Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, who has had three children while an MP, has called for MPs to be given six months maternity leave as well as the option of proxy votes.

Currently maternity and paternity arrangements in Parliament are informal and operate at the party level. If MPs choose to stay at home they cannot vote.

Ms Reynolds was one of three MPs who were new mothers when Theresa May called last year's snap election.

She gave birth to her first child Theo in the hours before the election was called.

Recounting how she and husband Richard were expecting a baby in April, she told the Commons: "We were hoping for a quiet year on the work front," to gales of laughter.

"We thought 'the bump' would be three years old by the time of the next election, because it seemed that the Prime Minister was absolutely determined to stay on course and to really respect the fixed term Parliament Act."

Ms Reynolds spoke of her shock when her mother told her Mrs May had called an election

"We were in a state of disbelief for quite some hours, days and weeks, and we wondered how on earth we were going to cope with a newborn," she said.

"This brand new little person that we had in our lives who we were already struggling to cope with during the night because he was up most of the night."

The MP thanked her constituents who she said supported her and baby Theo while she was on the campaign trail.

"I have to say there were a small handful of people who said to me that once the election was called, they assumed I would not stand again," she said.

"And I politely said to them, 'would you ask the same question if my husband was the MP?'

"And the answer didn't comer back because the answer was obvious.

"Of course they would not.

"I believe that new moms and new dads in this place, should have the same rights that we have legislated for, for men and women across our country.

"I can't believe that we are dragging our feet on this given that we have legislated to make such marked improvements in the last few years."

Ms Reynolds revealed she hit the campaign trail just seven days after giving birth – a move which a colleague pointed out was illegal in the UK.

"I admit I broke the law and I shouldn't have," she said, adding that she 'suffered for it physically'.

"I suspect there isn't anything that can be done when an election is called and you give birth, but I do think there is something that can be done after that," she said.

Closing the debate Ms Harman called for MPs to be 'an alliance for progress' on the issue, adding that it must not be allowed to 'disappear for decades'.

The motion was passed and will move on to its next stage.

Ministers are considering changing legislation around the amount of leave granted for MPs with new babies.

In 2016 a report into women in Parliament written by Prof Sarah Childs, suggested MPs nursing an infant should be able to vote from home, or nominate a proxy voter who could also table questions and amendments in Parliament.