Labour Member of Parliament, Stella Creasy, has always stated that her platform was for supporting women's rights. As such, she has been extremely outspoken when it comes to speaking about a woman's right to choose in Northern Ireland when it comes to abortion. As a result of her work, along with others in her party, a law was passed last year that allowed women the choice to terminate their pregnancy in Northern Ireland, as opposed to having to travel great distances to have the procedure, or worse, illegally have one done because there was no other option.
After the law was passed, how the regulations were implemented were devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. While the regulations are being followed, the government is at odds with the UK parliament as to the lack of gestational limit there is when it comes to ending a pregnancy on the grounds of fatal fetal anomalies. This means that if the death of a baby is imminent upon birth or shortly after, when this determination is made, regardless of the stage of pregnancy the woman is in, she can abort the child.
This hot topic issue has been discussed virtually since the coronavirus pandemic struck. A group of 50 out of the 120 MPs has been coming into work physically, while the others who have compromised immune systems or young children have been working from home. Until recently, this has been encouraged. But, with schools and other businesses reopening at the beginning of June, Jacob Rees-Mogg decided the Commons should be back in physical session as well.
Because Creasy has been working from home since the pandemic broke out, child care had not been put into place, because it was not necessary at the time. With a week's notice that the Commons would be returning, there was not enough time to find someone to care for her daughter, Hettie, especially in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. As such, Creasy brought her six-month-old daughter with her to debate the abortion issue in Northern Ireland.
Like all mothers who go out in public, Creasy had high hopes that Hettie would behave while she spoke her peace as to what the government should be doing to protect the rights of women in Northern Ireland. However, Hettie had other plans and made sure her voice was heard as well while front and center on the Commons floor. All Creasy could do was roll with the situation and finish her train of thought and line of questioning she had for others in Parliament.
This was not the first time that Hettie has joined her mom on the political stage. When Creasy was re-elected in December, Hettie accompanied her then as well and is even pictured in the official parliamentary portrait.
Source: Yahoo! Life, Mirror, The Guardian