Jacob Rees-Mogg is a deadbeat dad – Harriet Harman
2 min read
Jacob Rees-Mogg is a deadbeat dad because he has failed to change a single nappy since his sixth child was born, Harriet Harman has said.
The former Labour deputy leader hit out at Conservative MP, who is tipped as a future Tory leader, said he was no “modern man” as he had yet to change a single nappy after the birth of his sixth child, Sixtus.
“Men who don’t change nappies are deadbeat dads – and that includes Jacob Rees-Mogg,” said Harman, who is campaigning for MPs to be allowed to have a formal maternity or paternity leave system for the first time.
Ms Harman, a champion of women’s rights, said MPs had helped to reform British workplaces to help their female employees with childcare, but had failed to change the house.
“What model of fatherhood do we want parliament to portray? The ‘Rees-Mogg model’ or the modern father who – as well as the mother – is involved with a newborn,” said Ms Harman.
Mr Rees-Mogg hit back immediately, saying he would “lose little sleep over Harriet Harman’s disapproval”. The Tory MP, described by some as a future leader of his party, added: “I should’ve been surprised if it was otherwise.”
Ms Harman’s comments come after a week in which Mr Rees-Mogg has done little to endear himself to womens’ rights activists.
He made controversial comments on Good Morning Britain about how he opposed abortion in all circumstances, even if the woman had been raped.
Ms Harman, who was the first MP to breastfeed in the Commons, accused Parliament of hypocrisy in its approach to childcare.
“Parliament sets the framework for maternity and paternity leave but we don’t practice what we preach. We have to walk the talk.”
Ms Harman has spoken frequently of how little time she had with her young children when she first started work as an MP.
“Eighteen months maternity leave within that time for three children doesn’t seem too much to ask. Without maternity leave I lost out. I felt my babies lost out. It’s long overdue to sort this out,” she said.
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