I am delighted to have been able to provide advice and guidance to Stella Creasy on this cross-party issue, along with my colleague Mark Stephens CBE and the brilliant Rachel Crasnow QC and Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC. It is great to see Stella win her battle with IPSA to make history as the first MP to appoint a locum for maternity cover.
Changes in the age and gender profile of Parliamentary parties has increased the need for formal policies to be put in place. This is a great first step, not only for female MPs, to formally recognising and addressing maternity and paternity leave and breaking down the inflexibility of Parliament's working practices. However, there is still a lot more reform needed and we hope that IPSA remains committed to making much needed changes in Parliament.
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/stella-creasy-kizzy-gardiner-interview-a4279186.html"Creasy had to win a lengthy argument with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) for it to provide support to her constituency during maternity leave. Ipsa demanded medical certificates to prove she was pregnant, and official paperwork to demonstrate that her absence would affect the people of Walthamstow. It was, she says, as if Ipsa didn’t see the work she does in her constituency as part of her job as an MP."