This article appeared in the Chronicle newspaper on 25 February – you can also read it online here:

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/mp-catherine-mckinnell-renewed-focus-8706251

Welcoming her new baby has renewed a Newcastle politician’s commitment to defend the NHS against financial cut backs.

Labour MP for Newcastle North, Catherine McKinnell, is currently balancing political life with the care of her six-week-old son Michael Lennox.

With just months to go until the General Election, she said giving birth at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in January has again put standards of British health care into sharp focus.

She said: “The NHS has featured pretty heavily in my life in recent weeks. I received fantastic care at the RVI, and from local midwives and health visitors since – and it’s made me even more convinced of how precious our health service is.

“We all want the NHS to be there for us and our families when we need it, but I know from my postbag that many of my constituents are extremely concerned about the future of the NHS, and they want a Government that is committed to both protecting and strengthening it.”

The 38-year-old is one of just a handful of women to have given birth during the Coalition Government, despite the endeavours of Parliament to become a more child-friendly environment.

Her two other children, Sam, five, and Grace, seven, were born before she was elected in 2010, so Michael Lennox is her first baby while in post.

Her youngest is named after her well known grandfather Michael Grady, who founded Michael Grady’s construction company which has built hundreds of homes in Newcastle while his middle name ‘Lennox’ was inspired by her husband Rhys’ grandfather, John Lennox McKinnell, a well known local cricketer who lived in Benwell in the city’s West End.

She said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the kind wishes and cards that have been sent from other female MPs across the country – but from as many male MPs too. People often forget that quite a number of male MPs also have young families, and also are juggling their political work with their family life and caring responsibilities. I think the world of politics can be pretty bruising and negative at times, so it has been lovely to see such a warm response to some nice news for a change!

“I’ve also been really touched by the many kind messages I have received from people across the constituency. That has meant a lot.”

As one of eight siblings, Mrs McKinnell has relied on their help for childcare, as well as both her and Rhys’ parents, so it’s unlikely she will exercise the deeply fought for right to carry baby Michael through the voting lobby.

However even if there was a rare occasion her young family were in London with her, rather than at home in Gosforth, she doesn’t think there’s much scope now for her children to make an appearance in the hallways of the Commons.

She said: “I haven’t been in Westminster since I had my son last month, and I think it’s fair to say the Coalition is very much on its last legs in terms of the business coming before the Commons ahead of Parliament being dissolved on March 31 for the election.”

Formal maternity leave is non-existent for an MP, so Mrs McKinnell has decided to take a brief period of leave from Westminster work but will carry on with her case-work, and is still responding to concerns from residents over Twitter.

She said: “The nature of an MP’s role means that it’s not really possible for anyone to provide maternity cover as would normally happen. Only one person is elected to represent their constituents, and Newcastle North residents rightly expect to be able to get in touch with me when they need help, or have concerns about a particular policy or local issue.

“So, whilst I am taking a brief period of maternity leave from Westminster, it’s not really maternity leave in the usual sense! I’m still holding my regular coffee mornings around the constituency, for example, and my team and I continue to deal with a large volume of casework for constituents who need help, as well as responding to the very wide range of policy concerns that are raised with me on a daily basis – then tabling questions, or writing to Ministers and different Government agencies to get answers.

“Of course, balancing family life with my political work is not new as this is my third baby – and having a good team in my constituency office and a very supportive husband, parents and extended local family also helps.”