Judith Cummins Wants To Hold Parliament To A “Higher Standard Than Any Other Workplace”
5 min read
Judith Cummins is running for deputy speaker on two simple promises: to apply the rules fairly, and to foster a tolerant atmosphere.
“I don't think that that's too much to expect,” says the Labour MP for Bradford South, who has served in the Commons since 2015. “Tolerance and respect rules here, the same as you'd expect if you're at work anywhere else, to be treated with dignity and respect. I feel really strongly about that.”
The general election has been “very tough on new Members”, she says. “I want to make sure that, going forward in such a dangerous world, in a changing world, people see this place as the best of Britain.”
She pledges to call for a regular review of systems to ensure Parliament “does work for everybody”, saying: “I recognise that this place has had its problems, will always have its problems like any other workplace in a way. But I think we need to be held to a higher standard than any other workplace.”
But the MP adds: “It's unfortunate that every Member in this place gets the flak, really, from the worst behaviour of the worst Members of this place, rather than the best. And that is not always… It's not at all reflective of the workplace that we're in: this is a great place to work in.”
Cummins recognises that, post-election, “Everybody's really tired. We've got a lot of new Members and they all want an opportunity to be able to speak.”
She recalls a debate during Covid where she represented one of only two places that had restrictions imposed, yet had to fight to be heard.
“I got 20 seconds at the end of the debate, because so many people had been intervening and adding minutes and minutes. I just thought, there has to be a better and fairer way to make sure those who really need to speak get the opportunity to speak because our constituents deserve it.”
The safety of MPs is a topic the new intake will be keen to hear about. Does she believe security is good enough right now?
“I don't know what else we can do. I've thought and thought about this because obviously, I'm an MP, I've got family and I worry about them more than me. I know that that weighs heavily on people's minds when they come here. I remember being asked by a new MP, before she came in here, whether I wore a stab vest to my surgeries. It really made me reflect on what people think of this place, what people think the role of an MP is,” she says.
“I absolutely refute that you should be risking your life in the line of duty. It is not the role of an MP to be put in a dangerous place. And I know that the House authorities will always make necessary arrangements to keep us as safe as possible. But there is that conflict between being kept safe and being accessible.”
Some say the quality of debate in the Chamber has declined in recent years, with MPs prioritising how their intervention will be clipped for social media over engaging properly with arguments put forward by colleagues. But Cummins rejects the criticism.
“We live in a social media age, don't we? However, I don't think that the quality of debate has decreased. I kick back about that when I hear it because you've got MPs that have been put in here by their constituents, and to say that the quality of MPs has decreased yet the equality of MPs has increased to reflect society as a whole, I find that a bit insulting.”
Unlike departing deputy speakers Eleanor Laing and Nigel Evans, Cummins would not favour a ban on mobile phones either. “I don't think you can ban mobile phones in the Chamber. You can't even ban them in schools, let alone the Chamber!
“I know that it frustrates the public because we've got cameras in there all the time. And people think... I don't know what they think,” she says, stopping herself and referring merely to “instances that have been well-publicised”. (One MP’s research on tractors comes to mind.) “However, most people, it will be an urgent message, it'll be breaking news or whatever. And that is part of the life of being an MP.”
And would she allow breastfeeding in the Chamber? “I'm fairly relaxed. If it happens, it happens. It's a very natural thing to do, isn't it? I'm a mum. It happens. If they're comfortable with it, I'm entirely comfortable with it.”
On citizens’ assemblies, she says: “Any ideas to increase participation, I'd welcome.” But she goes on to add: “This place has its role as an elected place that makes the law. I don't think that should change. We are put here by our constituents who are citizens.”
Cummins will not be drawn on which Restoration and Renewal option she favours, however. “I think it's important that it's restored and renewed in the fullness of time, whenever that may be. Whether we decant, whether we stay whilst work goes on, that is entirely a matter for the House.”
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