MPs are to vote on trialling a scheme for pregnant women and new parents. BBC article here.
Given the recent shenanigans, I’m shocked that something sensible is on their agenda.
So why not for other circumstances, such as illness and travel? Famously, the 1979 no confidence vote that brought down the Callaghan government would have gone the other way if a seriously ill Labour MP had been able to attend, but his health was too far gone.
Why special consideration for parents? why not someone caring for an elderly parent? or who themselves is sick?
www.parliament.uk declares that "Pairing is not allowed in divisions of great political importance. "
Which raises several questions: Will proxy voting replace all pairing? Will proxy voting be allowed in “divisions of great political importance.”? Has there been some problem with pairing and parental leave? Is “parental leave” being used as part of a cynical ploy in a plan to replace pairing with proxy voting? Or what?
We had a recent case here in my state, where one party cheated on the pairing arrangements. Has that been happening in the UK?
Yep, hence the issue being pushed forward, partly by one MP actually delaying her medically advised scheduled C-section by a few days to ensure she could attend the votes last week, in a wheelchair. Sorta drew attention to the issue.