MPS have been warned that a "feminist army" will be unleashed against any one of them, who next week tries to block a plan to make proxy voting in the Commons available to new parents.
The warning came from Labour's Jess Phillips, who pledged to "make a misery of the lives" of any parliamentary colleague, who objected to the proposal based on their "patriarchal, paternalistic, draconian, old-fashioned sensibilities".
There is a concern that, under Commons procedure, it will take just one MP to shout "object" to delay the reform.
The Birmingham Yardley MP’s message appeared to be directed at certain backbench Tory MPs, such as Sir Christopher Chope, who have previously blocked private members' bills and other motions by shouting their objection. They often argue such measures need to be scrutinised further in debate rather than simply waved through.
Andrea Leadsom, the Commons Leader, confirmed the motion to implement a one-year trial to enable new parents to nominate a colleague to vote on their behalf would be brought forward for the Commons to "nod it through" on Monday.
She explained: "If somebody objects, then I will need to look at further measures, which I will do in very short order. But this is the quickest way to get it through."
The SNP’s Alison Thewliss said she was happy to subscribe to Ms Phillips's feminist army, noting: "It is unacceptable that one male member of this House could override the overwhelming will of everybody else in this place just to get their own way on an issue that won't even affect them."
The issue of proxy voting flared up last July when Brandon Lewis, the Conservative Chairman, broke the MPs’ conventional pairing arrangement, whereby one MP from the Government side agrees not to vote because of the indisposition of an MP from an opposing party.
However, Mr Lewis, who was paired with Jo Swinson, the deputy Liberal Democrat leader, on maternity leave at the time, did vote, helping the Tories to win by just six votes.
A row ensued with MPs calling unsuccessfully for the Government Chief Whip, Julian Smith, to resign.
The issue flared up again last week when Labour’s Tulip Siddiq delayed her Caesarean operation to vote on Theresa's May's Brexit deal. Heavily pregnant, she had to be wheeled into the Commons chamber.
Ms Swinson, who tabled an Urgent Commons Question on proxy voting, welcomed the “overdue” pilot scheme but said it was “shameful” Ms Siddiq had been put in the “invidious position of having to try to make a choice between potential health risks to her baby and whether or not her constituents could have their voice heard on the biggest issue of our time”.
Ms Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Kilburn, welcomed the “momentous change,” tweeting: "Watching the Urgent Question with Raphael who, at just six days old, is delighted to have been mentioned in Hansard, due to the historic introduction of #ProxyVoting in the House of Commons.”
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