ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Speaker Feeds MP's Baby During Parliamentary Debate In New Zealand

Speaker Feeds MP's Baby During Parliamentary Debate In New Zealand

Multi-tasking at its finest

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

Normally when you turn over the TV to Prime Minister's Questions in the UK, Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow seems to spend most of his time yelling 'Order!' and smashing his gavel.

But during a recent parliamentary debate in New Zealand, the speaker cut a far more tender and gentle figure.

On Wednesday, MP Tāmati Coffey - Labour MP for Waiariki - brought his baby son, Tūtānekai Smith-Coffey, into the House of Representatives for the first time since the youngster was born in July.

During the parliamentary debate, Mr Coffey was given a hand with babysitting duties by the speaker, Trevor Mallard, who cradled and fed the baby while presiding over the debate.

Father-of-three Mr Mallard shared a subsequent tweet in which he congratulated Mr Coffey on the new arrival.

He said: "Normally the Speaker's chair is only used by Presiding Officers but today a VIP took the chair with me. Congratulations @tamaticoffey and Tim on the newest member of your family."

Mr Mallard's tweet has since been retweeted more than 1,500 times, with people hailing the example set by New Zealand.

Commenting on the video, one person said: "New Zealand....you might be a small country, but you have a huge lesson to teach the world!"

Another added: "That is the most beautiful thing I've seen in years."

Baby Tūtānekai was born via a surrogate mother and is the biological son of Mr Coffey's partner, Tim Smith.

Kiwi politicians have form for bringing babies to work, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern making history last September by bringing her baby along to her debut speech at the UN general assembly in New York.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter

Topics: New Zealand, World News, Awesome, Politics