A heavily pregnant minister was forced to stand throughout Prime Ministers Question while hundreds of MPs sat on the Commons green benches.
Equalities minister Jo Swinson champions women’s rights in government and has called for a change in attitudes to new parents.
But onlookers were alarmed to see the 33-year-old standing during throughout PMQs yesterday, while Labour, Tory and Lib Dem backbenchers sat nearby.
As David Cameron took questions in the Commons at midday every seat was taken, leaving a large group of MPs standing by the main doors.
Miss Swinson, who is due to give birth on Christmas Day, was among them.
But none of the MPs sitting just feet away offered her a seat – to the surprise of Westminster observers.
James Forsyth, political editor of The Spectator, wrote on Twitter: ‘Quite remarkable that no MP has offered Jo Swinson, who is seven months pregnant, a seat.
'Really shocking lack of manners and decency.’
Miss Swinson is a junior business minister working with Vince Cable, and has pushed for greater equality for women at work.
She has admitted the pressure of carrying a baby was taking its toll on being a minister in the government and Lib Dem MP for East Dunbartonshire.
Once tipped as a future Scottish Secretary, she admitted she will not be able to lead the charge in next year’s independent referendum.
‘Clearly, there will be a period when I won’t be able to be quite as active on the doorsteps,’ she told the Independent on Sunday last month.
‘But, yes, I want to be strongly involved in that campaign because I believe it’s so important for the future of Scotland and, indeed, for the future of the UK.’
She is also adamant that she will not take ministerial red boxes while on maternity leave.
‘I am still very committed and enjoy my job and want to come back to continue doing that, but I think having a bit of time to do that early bonding is also really important.’
The coalition has agreed new rules allowing new parents work alternate months for up to a year under moves to tear up ‘old-fashioned and rigid’ workplace rules.
Mums and dads will be able to ‘mix and match’ how they look after a newborn baby for their first year. They will be able to take up a total of 52 weeks in joint leave, either taking it in turns or at the same time.
Ministers hope the changes will encourage fathers to play a bigger role in raising their child while mothers are able to return to work at a time of their choosing.
Miss Swinson said she had discussed with her husband Duncan Hames, who is also a Lib Dem MP, about how to ‘share the parenting as much as possible’.
She added: ‘Like most new parents, we are both very excited about our new arrival and wanting to be very hands-on from the start.’
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