In 2018, Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson was unable to vote on legislation that will impact the country for years to come because she was on maternity leave and couldn’t be there in person. In January 2019, Labour MP Tulip Siddiq was forced to delay her caesarian birth to take part in Parliament’s vote on Brexit.

They joined forces on More United’s campaign to make MP voting rules fit for the modern day by introducing the ability to vote by proxy.

On the 28th of January 2019, there will be a vote on proxy voting. By working together across party lines, we have shaped government action. Now let’s make sure that it passes.

Campaign details:

The future of our country is debated in Parliament. But an archaic system is loaded against those MPs who can’t be there in person.

On Tuesday 17th July 2018 Parliament held a critical vote on the future of the UK’s relationship with the EU. Having given birth to her baby just days before, MP for East Dunbartonshire Jo Swinson was unable to be there in person, leaving her excluded from the vote.

Jo was “paired” with an MP on the other side of the issue in an arrangement that would have meant her absence was cancelled out - but that other MP voted. Whether deliberate or not, it’s proof that the system needs urgent reform.

Tulip Siddiq MP and Jo Swinson MP joined forces across party lines to call for an urgent vote on this issue.

UPDATE: We won! Parliament voted to introduce proxy voting for MPs. MPs on parental leave can now represent you without having to leave their newborn babies at home or attend the chamber by wheelchair when heavily pregnant. Adding our voices to the thousands calling for change made the requirement for proxy voting impossible to ignore. More United wants to make politics fit for the 21st century and this is one small step towards that.