As a mother, I always welcome the views of other women about their experiences in the workplace. We’ve come a long way since the days, not that long ago, when the announcement of a pregnancy at work was effective notice of resignation.
Even now though, most women — often in minimum-wage jobs, the self-employed or single mums — must balance work and family life. These women need the support of people like me, whose circumstances give us greater control and choice in our lives. It is therefore hugely disappointing to see a fellow female MP, Stella Creasy, diverting attention away from those we should be helping to improving our own maternity settlements.
I am six months’ pregnant. This will be my third baby but the first I’ve had as an MP. It’s a demanding job but it offers much greater autonomy for pregnant women than I had in my two previous careers. Statutory maternity pay is £148 a week, while an MP receives full pay even when we take maternity leave. I can’t speak for my parliamentary colleagues but I would find it hard to claim to a constituent on the minimum wage that I have a bad deal.
The reality for MPs is that we can’t be completely replaced when we are on leave. Job shares and maternity (or paternity) cover as other workers understand it are unrealistic: who would listen to a speech being given by a temp who wasn’t entitled to vote on the issue? How would you know my views were being represented accurately? Most constituents want diverse representation in parliament and accept that this sometimes entails leave of absence for new mums and dads, just as it does for MPs who fall ill.
I’m horrified to read about MPs attending residents’ meetings just days after giving birth or risking an unborn baby’s health by working in the final stages of a difficult pregnancy. There is absolutely no compulsion to do this. We should set an example by fighting these unreasonable pressures, not succumbing to them.
The debate sparked by Stella Creasy conflates the role of individual MPs with the work done by our staff, the vital professional support network all members have which we get a budget of £150,000 to cover. I have structured mine to cope with a leave of absence — my own or that of a staff member — leaving flexibility in the budget to secure the necessary cover.
We should not present ourselves as victims. The truth is that a real level playing field on maternity rights would be a move to statutory pay. Asking for more privileges looks like golden-skirt feminism to improve the lot of well-paid MPs and gives the impression of misplaced priorities.
The article was originally published in the Telegraph, June 20th 2019
