Mette Abildgaard took her five-month-old daughter, Esther Marie, with her to work because her husband was unable to care for her that day, and because Abildgaard needed to vote. Writing on Facebook, the politician called the circumstances “extraordinary”.

“I took her to the hall, because she was in a nice mood and had a pacifier in her mouth,” said Abildgaard, noting that she had made arrangements with her secretary to take the baby if she became noisy or unsetted.

But, upon arriving in the chamber, Abildgaard was told by Pia Kjaersgaard, a female politician who has consistently taken a stance against multiculturalism and immigration, that her baby was not welcome. Abildgaard had to hand her baby to a staff member so she could participate in a vote.

The incident has prompted a debate about whether female politicians should be allowed to bring babies into parliament.

A Danish MP has reignited the debate about bringing babies into parliament