Pregnant MP Stella Creasy calls for change to maternity rules

• She said lack of maternity support meant she will struggle to help constituents
• Said expenses watchdog doesn’t recognise that members go on maternity leave
• It also refuses to pay for cover for work carried out outside Parliament, she says
• Last night Theresa May signalled her support for rule changes raised by Creasy

A pregnant MP has called for a change to maternity rules for MPs – after complaining the system meant she would be ‘forced to choose between being an MP and being a mum’.

Labour’s Stella Creasy, who is expecting her first child, said the lack of maternity support meant she would struggle to help constituents while caring for her baby.

She said the expenses watchdog, which regulates MPs’ pay, does not recognise that members go on maternity leave and refuses to pay for any cover for work carried out outside Parliament.

Miss Creasy, who has twice suffered miscarriages, told The Guardian: ‘Humiliatingly, it is making me beg for extra staff funding – or give up any chance of spending time with my child to make sure my constituents don’t miss out.’

The Walthamstow MP added: ‘I never thought Parliament would tell me to choose between being an MP and being a mum.’

Last night Theresa May signalled her support for rule changes.

Her spokesman said the Prime Minister urges the watchdog ‘to look very closely at the issues that have been raised by Stella Creasy and determine what more support, such as temporary staffing, can be provided’.

In January, MPs approved a year-long trial of proxy voting for MPs with babies. Campaigners have also called for MPs to get six months’ paid leave and be able to nominate someone as full-time paid ‘cover’ for work outside the Commons.