Labour MP Stella Creasy holds baby in Commons as she takes part in Northern Ireland abortion debate

Labour's Stella Creasy held her baby in the House of Commons as she responded to questions on Northern Ireland abortion regulations.

Ms Creasy's daughter Hettie made the appearance on Thursday and the Walthamstow MP referred to her in a speech, saying: "I respect the argument the minister is making - as does my daughter."

It is not the first time Hettie has appeared in Parliament - when Ms Creasy was sworn in last year, she carried her in a sling.

Ms Creasy told MPs on Thursday: "We all recognise that this is a difficult issue for many and that there are strongly held views on all sides of this debate, but one of the reasons why this house stood up for the rights of all women in the United Kingdom was just because it was too difficult, didn't mean that their rights should be denied.

"And devolution does not absolve us of our responsibilities to uphold the rights of every UK citizen."

She added that "human rights was at the heart" of the debate and that the role of the Assembly should be come to up with alternative proposals.

"To not propose these regulations would mean further delay and possibly women making unsafe choices in Northern Ireland because there isn't clarity about what services are available to them."

Ms Creasy added that “travelling is not a sustainable option” for women seeking abortions, particularly during the current pandemic.

She said: “Now the minister says he wants to see the Department of Health in Northern Ireland providing these services. Can he tell us what his plan is, indeed, if the Northern Ireland Assembly continues to say that they will not commission these services?

“How do we ensure that we uphold the rights of CEDAW that we have said every woman in the United Kingdom is entitled to be covered by?"

In response, Northern Ireland minister Robin Walker said: “I do think that it is important that we should end the need to travel and that is what these regulations properly implemented should do.”

He added that “is not something that can necessarily be done instantly” and the Government “will continue to fund and support travel in the interim”.

Earlier the MP wrote on Twitter: "So all my careful timing to make sure baby asleep during urgent question went well then … hoping she doesn’t do anything unparliamentary".

The MP was praised on Twitter for balancing "professional responsibility with childcare problems."

Ms Creasy hit back at those who criticised her move by telling them to "get over it" and used the hashtag #nosh**takingmum.

She also mentioned Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, saying the MP had left her "no other choice".

Mr Rees-Mogg was criticised by many MPs for pushing ahead with plans for the politicians to return to the Commons on Wednesday despite safety concerns for MPs who are shielding during the coronavirus outbreak.

In May, an anti-abortion campaigner failed to overturn a ban on posting images of Ms Creasy alongside photos of a dead foetus in her constituency.

Ms Creasy has said the posters, which appeared around Walthamstow last October, made her feel “harassed”.

She made history as the first MP to appoint a locum for her six-month maternity cover.

The Walthamstow MP had to win a lengthy argument with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) for it to provide support to her constituency during maternity leave.

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