Remember when Tory Party chairman Brandon Lewis broke a “pairing agreement” with a Liberal Democrat who was on maternity leave so his government could win a Brexit vote? Tulip Siddiq does.
Pairing is a longstanding convention in the House of Commons, where the whips of the government and an opposition party agree to allow MPs from one side to miss a vote because of personal reasons or official business. The other party agrees to hold back one of their MPs from voting so the two absences cancel each other out.
But it seems Conservative chief whip Julian Smith has been trying to get his party’s MPs to betray that convention. He was successful in getting Mr Lewis to vote on Brexit legislation when he had said he would absent himself to accommodate the fact that Jo Swinson was having a baby.
Remember?
Tulip Siddiq does.
Advised by doctors to have her second child by caesarean section today (January 15), she has opted to push the procedure back two days because she does not trust Theresa May’s government to act honourably.
Who can blame her for that?
Of course the decision has sparked a row, with other Labour MPs saying a proxy voting system should be introduced, making the now-discredited “pairing” convention unnecessary:
"She should not have to choose between going through the division lobby in a wheelchair, nine months pregnant… or losing her right to vote"
Labour's @HarrietHarman says @TulipSiddiq should be allowed to cast her vote on May's #Brexit deal by proxyhttps://t.co/DiymEhJGsc pic.twitter.com/3uWZZjUUmV
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) January 14, 2019
We need a proxy voting system for heavily pregnant MPs, and new mums/dads. When I was full term with my baby in June I was medically advised not to travel from Lancashire to Westminster for votes but, if there had have been an option to cast votes remotely I would have done. https://t.co/dz3XrTle6n
— Cat Smith MP (@CatSmithMP) January 14, 2019
For members of the public, it seems to have become a matter of honour that every MP should turn up and vote.
https://twitter.com/LeeHow14/status/1084914541811642368
Here’s my preferred reason for that democratic fervour:
The largest post-war Government defeat was on 22nd March 1979 when Labour under Callaghan lost by 89 votes.
Six days later the Government lost a vote of no-confidence leading to an election defeat.
Repeat please.
— Matt Thomas #GrassrootsVoice (@Trickyjabs) January 14, 2019
One thing is sure, no matter what the outcome of the vote (and I think we all know what it is going to be):
The Conservative Party will go into it in disgrace, and can only expect to come out of it in worse condition.
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