British Lawmaker Delays Giving Birth to Vote on Brexit Deal

Tulip Siddiq was advised by doctors to have a C-section, but she delayed the procedure, so she could vote.

A file photo of Tulip Siddiq.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@TulipSiddiq)

A 36-year-old Bangladeshi-origin British lawmaker delayed giving birth to vote on the UK's landmark divorce deal with the European Union on Tuesday, 15 January.

British lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's deal, plunging the Brexit process into chaos and triggering a no-confidence vote against the PM.

Tulip Siddiq, a Labour lawmaker was advised by doctors to have a caesarean section, but she agreed to push the procedure to Thursday, 17 January, so she could vote on the Brexit deal in the House of Commons.

Siddiq told the Evening Standard that she had a difficult first pregnancy, and was due to give birth to her second child by elective caesarean section on 4 February. But after developing gestational diabetes, her doctors recommended that she change the date date to 15 or 16 January.

She said: "If my son enters the world even one day later than (what) the doctors advised, but it's a world with a better chance of a strong relationship between Britain and Europe, then that's worth fighting for."

Siddiq spoke to medical staff at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, London, and they agreed to delay the procedure.

Siddiq is the grand-daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh. Her aunt is Hasina, who was sworn in as Bangladesh’s prime minister for a record fourth term on 7 January.

Brexit Vote in Parliament

Voting was held in Parliament after more than two years of political upheaval, and it was the biggest defeat for any government in the House of Commons in over a century.

The House of Commons’ 432-202 vote against May’s plan was widely expected, but the count could be devastating to her leadership.

Lawmakers will vote on Wednesday, 16 January, in a no-confidence motion called by opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn that could trigger a national election.

How Proxy Voting is Held

Earlier, Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, had said that a proxy vote for Siddiq would be his "preference", but it was not in his power to grant it. However, he was happy for her to be "nodded through.”

This process normally means an MP's vote can be counted if they are anywhere on the parliamentary estate, rather than going through the voting lobby.

It has traditionally been used for MPs who were unwell, such as during the votes on the Maastricht Treaty in the 1990s, where some were driven onto the estate by ambulance to be "nodded through" on crucial votes.

A process called ‘pairing’ is another option for MPs who can’t vote. In this, a MP on either side of an issue agrees not to vote, cancelling each other out.

However, Siddiq said she did not trust the system after Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis was accused of breaking the system when he voted on a Trade Bill, despite being paired with Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson, who was on maternity leave. He later apologised for making an "honest mistake.”

"If the pairing system is not honoured, there's nothing I can do, and it's going to be a very close vote," Siddiq had said.

"I've had no pressure at all from the whips to come and vote, but this is the biggest vote of my lifetime. I've sat down with my husband Chris and he said to me this is my choice, but that he would support me," she said.

(With inputs from PTI and the Associated Press)