Stella Creasy has claimed she was ‘kicked off’ an empty bus by a driver because there were ‘two pushchairs already on it.’
The Walthamstow MP, 44, took to Twitter and explained how she was ‘struggling with two children,’ one of whom was ‘extremely poorly,’ when she says she was ‘shouted at.
Alongside a snap of the inside of the bus, which appeared to have clear walkways, Stella penned: ‘Well that wasn’t fun. Just been kicked off an empty bus by a bus driver because there were two pushchairs already on it.
‘Surely when the bus is this empty and large amount of space as you can see it can’t be TFL policy to do this?!’
The Labour MP – who has a two-year-old daughter, Hettie and welcomed a son earlier this year – has been a staunch campaigner for better parental rights for MPs balancing work and family responsibilities.
Stella Creasy, 44, has claimed she was ‘kicked off’ an empty bus by a driver because there were ‘two pushchairs already on it.’ Pictured, speaking in the chamber of the House of Commons, in London, with her newborn baby strapped to her on September 23, 2021
The Walthamstow representative shared snap on Twitter which she says shows the ‘large amount of space’ left on the vehicle (pictured)
Stella posted her rage on social media and tagged Heidi Alexander – Deputy Mayor of London for Transport – and Sadiq Khan in the post (pictured)
In response to her post, one of her social media followers questioned: ‘Surely you could’ve used the old ‘do you know who I am?’ trick to get on board??’
However, Stella responded: ‘Would oddly enough never do that but struggling with two children, one extremely poorly, and being shouted at for just getting on a bus not great.
‘Also seems bizarre if a bus not full to demand someone gets off – that’s why want to know if tfl policy?!’
Stella tagged Heidi Alexander – Deputy Mayor of London for Transport – and London mayor Sadiq Khan in the post.
The Walthamstow MP explained how she was ‘struggling with two children,’ one of whom was ‘extremely poorly,’ when she says she was ‘shouted at’ (pictured)
TFL responded to Stella’s post and issued an apology which read: ‘Sorry you experienced this. Our policy is you can board any London bus with a pushchair, unless the driver thinks it is too crowded for safe travel’ (pictured)
In response, TFL issued an apology and tweeted: ‘Sorry you experienced this. Our policy is you can board any London bus with a pushchair, unless the driver thinks it is too crowded for safe travel.
‘Drivers may ask you to fold your buggy to make space for others. We will follow up with the operator.’
Tom Cunnington, TFL’s Head of Buses Business Development, told FEMAIL: ‘We are sorry that Ms Creasy was unable to board the bus with her child’s buggy. While there is a limit of two unfolded buggies on a bus to keep everyone safe and the aisle clear, additional folded buggies are allowed and our driver should ask if those with buggies can fold them.
‘We have asked the operator to investigate what happened and ensure every effort is being made to let as many people on the bus as possible.’
In September, Stella was accompanied by her ‘impeccably behaved’ baby boy in the Commons as she warned new mothers are ‘rebuked’ rather than supported when returning to Parliament.
Cradling her young son as she rose to ask Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg a question on Thursday, the Labour MP demanded action for new parents in the House.
Earlier this year, MPs backed new legislation that entitled ministers to six months maternity leave on full pay, but not backbenchers.
Following the birth of her first baby, Stella appointed a temporary locum to handle her constituents’ queries, but was informed she could not continue with the same arrangement when her son was born.
Stella also made headlines in 2019 after she appeared in the House of Commons with her then two-week-old baby daughter strapped to her chest in a baby sling.
The MP had to swear in inside Parliament to access her maternity leave and to ensure her Walthamstow constituents still got her vote by proxy.