Yesterday I spotted a petition that a person called Laura Stewart had set out a couple of weeks ago. It is calling for “The House of Commons should seek to become more family orientated for new parents, to help increase the participation of women in politics.” It seems very sensible and given that it has only had a few signatures it would be fantastic if we could promote it and get it to 10,000 by the time that Parliament reopens. The petition can be obtained from here. Along with two signatures from a place called Ceridigion in Wales and indeed another Welsh signature the rest of the 8 signatures are all based on one signature in a wide range of 8 locations. A few days before this petition was approved an article in the Guardian appeared under this headline and the first few words below it

MPs should not bring babies into Commons, says cross-party review

The review into the rules was ordered by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle in November

MPs should not be allowed to bring babies into the House of Commons chamber during debates, a cross-party review has recommended after mounting “confusion” about the rules. The procedure committee report was ordered amid an outcry over Labour backbencher Stella Creasy being told she could no longer bring her newborn son while making statements or asking questions in parliament. The group ruled that MPs should not bring babies into the chamber or nearby Westminster Hall if they wanted to “observe, initiate, speak or intervene in proceedings”.

One of the people on social media who has promoted this theme is an Australian politician called Larissa Waters @larissawaters who on twitter stated

So wonderful having a baby in the chamber again! Congratulations to Senator Nita Green & wife! It brings back memories of my little one 5 years ago. Great to see parliament modernise and allow babies in the chamber. We need more rights for new parents in all workplaces.

So perhaps we can persuade more people to sign the petition?