Yesterday (13 September) in Parliament MPs debated implementing a proxy voting system for maternity and paternity for MPs who become new parents. The debate followed a recent report from the Procedure Committee, which is a Select Committee in the House of Commons, that gave recommendations on how such a system could work.

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Member of the Procedure Committee, spoke in the debate to highlight his support, but made it clear he could not support proxy voting for matters other than maternity and paternity leave. Sir David also spoke of the evidence the Committee had received, as well as his experience of the current system when he served as a Government Whip.

During the debate, Sir David commented: “I could not accept proxy voting for all absences. As I said, I do not believe that that is practical or desirable, but to me the arguments in favour of proxy voting for baby leave, or whatever we want to call it, are compelling. I believe this House would do a disservice to parents and children if we did not consider this very seriously and implement it as quickly as possible.”