Bim Afolami MP to become ‘first father in British parliamentary history’ to vote by proxy while on paternity leave

Afolami says he will be taking paternity leave to support his wife ‘over the tough, tough nights’

Bim Afolami MP is to become the “first father in British parliamentary history” to vote by proxy while on paternity leave.

The Conservative MP, who represents Hitchin and Harpenden in parliament, announced on Twitter and Facebook on Thursday 21 February that he would be taking time off from work following the birth of his third child.

“Over the coming days, and I’m not entirely sure when because that’s not how these things work, my wife will be having our third baby,” Mr Afolami said in a video.

He stated that the whole family are “over the moon delighted” about their new arrival, especially his two sons.

Mr Afolami continued, saying that he’s going to be taking a couple of weeks off for paternity leave to help support his wife throughout the “tough, tough nights” and to take their sons to school and nursery.

“But I do believe that I will be the first father in British parliamentary history to ever be able to vote by proxy so that I can satisfy my obligations to you to be your member of parliament and to vote here on important pieces of legislation,” the politician added, addressing his constituents directly.

On 28 January, the government announced the launch of its proxy voting scheme to allow new mothers, new fathers and adoptive parents to vote by proxy in parliament.

Through the scheme, those entitled to a proxy vote can name any member of parliament who is “eligible to vote in divisions” to carry their proxy vote.

The scheme was launched following a recent call to allow pregnant MPs to be allowed to vote by proxy in parliament.

The issue was raised after Labour MP Tulip Siddiq opted to delay the birth of her child by caesarean so that she could vote down Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

Mr Afolami believes fathers shouldn’t feel deterred from taking paternity leave.

“It’s about saying you can be busy and ambitious and take paternity leave,” he told Sky News.

The MP will still be taking on case work while on paternity leave and will be available “remotely” to respond to enquiries.

A study conducted in June 2018 by the men’s division of toiletry company Dove and gender equality organisation Promundo found that an increasing number of men want access to paternity leave.

According to the research, almost two thirds of fathers said that they had quit their jobs or would consider quitting so that they could help care for their child in the weeks and month following the birth.

More than 60 per cent of men also said they would consider taking a lower paid role to enable them to take paternity leave.