Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthomstow has been informed by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority that she will not be granted full maternity cover in the form of a locum for her role as MP. This is Stella Creasy’s second baby, when she delivered her first child, IPSA granted her full locum cover, giving her access to 6 months paid maternity leave.

In an exchange between Stella Creasy and the Independent Standards Authority, IPSA called the request for such cover ‘misconceived’ and instead suggested they could provide a sum of money for staffing - £35,000 over seven months – which could be used to pay for staff who cannot be given any status to act in the absence of the MP. Instead they expect this person to ‘escalate matters to the MP’, so highlighting the MP will continue to be called upon to undertake duties and so unable to take appropriate maternity leave. 

This shocking decision comes just 4 months after the Government pushed through a Bill to ensure Ministers could access 6 months maternity leave on full pay. 

Parents need time to bond with their baby and women need time to recover from childbirth; this decision means that an MP can do neither, thereby forcing them to choose between their child and their constituents. This is bad for democracy and for equality. It is imperative that Parliament is a workplace that works for women if we are to ever have gender equality amongst those who make the laws to which we all adhere. If Parliament can’t get this right then what hope is there for the rest of us? This decision by IPSA not only impacts sitting MPs and their right to liberty and equality, it has huge consequences for all of us

Stella is now exploring legal action against IPSA.

We need your support, please tweet IPSA to demand they reconsider 

Here is an example tweet: 

Hi @ipsaUK All MP's deserve the right to suitable parental leave in the form of a locum cover. Your refusal to offer @stellacreasy what is necessary for her to do her job and be a mum will have a negative impact on equality and democracy. Please reconsider.