Labour MP stuns House of Commons by announcing ‘I’m on my period’

An MP stunned the House of Commons after announcing that she was late to a debate because she was ‘on her period’.

Labour minister Danielle Rowley, the MP for Midlothian in Scotland, told the Speaker on Thursday ‘I’m on my period’ as she called for action on so-called ‘period poverty’.  

Ms Rowley urged the government to act on the rising costs of sanitary products, as she said they had cost her £25 so far this week.

During Women and Equalities questions, she told MPs: ‘I would like to raise with you today and to the House, and perhaps you’ll excuse me for my lateness, that today I’m on my period – and it’s cost me this week already £25.

Labour MP Danielle Rowley told the speaker that she was late to the debate because she was ‘on her period’

Ms Rowley made the comments in a debate during Women and Equalities questions on Thursday

‘We know the average cost of a period in the UK over a year is £500 – many women can’t afford this. What is the minister doing to address period poverty?’

Women and Equalities Minister Victoria Atkins said the Government had invested £1.5 million in the Brook Young People project, Let’s Talk Periods.

‘And the Government is committed to removing the VAT rate on sanitary products when we leave the EU which will help with the costs of sanitary products.’

Several MPs raised concerns about period poverty, with shadow women and equalities minister Carolyn Harris accusing the Government of failing to provide support.

She said: ‘Why is the UK Government failing to provide support to tackle this growing problem and leaving it to charities and individual groups like Beauty Bank, a cosmetics equivalent of food banks, organised by Jo Jones and Sali Hughes, to fill the gap?’

Ms Atkins said the UK was ‘watching with interest’ the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver access to free sanitary products in schools and other educational institutions.

Later in the exchanges, Labour’s Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton) called for menopause policies to become statutory for employers in the same way as maternity policies.

Ms Atkins replied: ‘With more women over the age of 50 remaining in work, more women will experience the symptoms of menopause whilst in work, and so it’s in employers’ interests to ensure that they have policies that adapt.’

Ms Rowley drew attention to the rising cost of sanitary products by telling MPs her period had cost her £25 this week

Speaker John Bercow made light of her late appearance to the debate in his introduction

The government has been urged to take action and cut VAT on sanitary products, among other measures, as the price of having a period has risen to around £500 per year

The British Medical Association recently called on health secretary Jeremy Hunt to provide free tampons to in-patients in NHS hospitals.

Eleanor Wilson, who proposed the scheme, said: ‘We do not ask patients to bring in toilet paper or food so why are we asking them to bring in their own sanitary products? 

‘Patients in hospitals should expect to have all of their basic needs met to allow a quick and dignified recovery. This is currently not happening.’ 

A Government spokeswoman responded to calls, saying: ‘No woman should have to go without sanitary products, which is why we’re helping millions of families meet the everyday costs of living and keep more of what they earn.

‘In addition, over £47 million has been awarded to charities across the UK supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged women and girls since the Tampon Fund was introduced in 2015.

‘We strongly support cutting VAT to zero on sanitary products, but we cannot do this under current EU law.

‘Therefore we are currently charging 5 per cent VAT – the lowest possible rate – and we’ve introduced legislation in the Finance Act 2016 to cut this altogether.’ 

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