Babies, you've come a short way in UK

'Parliament bans babies' sounds terribly infantophobic, whether presided at by monarchs like Kamsa or Herod, or extant ones like Elizabeth Windsor. But Britain's parliament upholding the ban on the entry of babies - accompanied by one of their MP parents - has set the proverbial kitten among the fledglings.

It all came about when Labour MP Stella Creasy was reprimanded last year for bringing her 2-month baby son strapped across her chest and leading a debate on 'buy now-pay later' consumer schemes at the House of Commons. As expected, a committee was set up, which this Thursday made it clear that 'members should not bring babies with them into the Chamber, Westminster Hall of general committees' when they are part of a proceeding.

Creasy's point of bringing her kid - who remained quieter than a typical MP - was to underline the fact that MPs do not get maternity leave or any allowance for daycare. Ergo, carry on (with) baby. Debates over this have broken out in and outside Westminster over the distraction a baby can bring - especially to male MPs' gaze - during work. But, as always, New Zealand cut through the pap back in 2019, when its parliamentary speaker babysat an MP's baby while his father engaged in debate. Both speaker and child watched the father conduct business from their high chair.