THE SNP MP who suffered a stroke at just 28-years-old is returning to Westminster for the first time since 2020, against the advice of doctors.
Amy Callaghan has repeatedly called for the Commons to reintroduce proxy voting that was made available during Covid lockdown with MPs unable to travel to Parliament for votes.
The East Dunbartonshire MP felt that travelling down to Parliament today "against doctor's orders" was the only way to properly represent her constituents.
⛔ This was a day that some said was impossible.
— Amy Callaghan MP (@AmyCallaghanSNP) February 7, 2022
🚶🏽♀️I had to learn to sit, to stand & to walk again.
💛 Now I'm standing up for each and every single stroke survivor.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Amy. I'm 29. I've survived cancer (twice) & now survived a stroke. I'm back and ready to go again. pic.twitter.com/n4ZHPZPZu4
Callaghan caused a massive shock at the 2019 General Election when she unseated former LibDem leader Jo Swinson. She made a mark in the UK Parliament but her life was upended when she collapsed in June of 2020.
READ MORE: Amy Callaghan: My situation shows just how broken Westminster is
She told the Daily Record: "Westminster should have adapted to people with my kind of condition, so I could still represent my constituents.
"It should never have reached this point.
"It's definitely against doctor's orders. If this was a constituent travelling to London, I would be telling them not to go.
"It's 420 miles from my constituency office to the House of Commons.
"My mobility is significantly better than what it was, but it's not great. If I could do my job from home, and still represent my constituents, I would - but I can't just now."
Doe to her rehabilitation after her stroke, Callaghan only returned to politics in March of 2021 and was able to participate in virtual proceedings which have since been discontinued at the Parliament.
She has not been able to travel to Westminster for almost two years now, but is making the journey to raise the case of a constituent who is struggling with financial support after suffering a stroke.
Ian Blackford, leader of the SNP group at Westminster, tweeted: “Looking forward to seeing @AmyCallaghanSNP this week but the rules of the Commons must be changed so she can participate from home whilst she continues her recovery.
“It is not OK that her sense of duty means she has to ignore doctor’s orders.”
Looking forward to seeing @AmyCallaghanSNP this week but the rules of the commons must be changed so she can participate from home whilst she continues her recovery. It is not OK that her sense of duty means she has to ignore doctors orders. https://t.co/RGlLL0qaP0
— Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) February 7, 2022
Callaghan believes that "at the minimum" proxy voting should be made available for MPs who either have conditions stopping them from travelling or also have to make significant journeys from constituencies every time they go.
She said: "The procedure committee of the House of Commons has been doing an inquiry, which I have given evidence to.
"They've struggled to find MPs to speak against it which is a stark contrast to the situation several years ago.
"But the government is dragging its heels."
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She added that those in charge at Westminster are "quite content with their antiquated system".
"They reluctantly adapted during the pandemic but they are happy with their system as it is.
"The systems are already there and the processes already exist - they just need to hit a button."
"It just reeks of typical British exceptionalism."
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