Judith Cummins Wants To Hold Parliament To A “Higher Standard Than Any Other Workplace”

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