WATCH: Baby enters the House of Commons during Brexit vote

LONDON: The proceedings in the House of Commons witnessed a surprising moment when an MP on maternity leave brought her newborn baby into the legislature so she could support triggering Article 50 in the historic Brexit vote.

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, was welcomed into the House of Commons by Speaker of the House John Bercow.

House of Commons Speaker John Bercow had his hands full during the 17 hours of debate on legislation to pave the way the UK’s EU exit.

Ms Smith, 34, said last week she would be travelling from her Norwich North constituency to vote on “the central issue of our times”.

And when she arrived in the chamber with her son Alastair, they got a warm welcome from Mr Bercow.

The Speaker said: “I say to the honourable lady, don’t be sheepish about it.

“The little baby is welcome to come in. There’s no problem.”

In a statement posted on her website on Friday, Ms Smith said: ” Brexit is now the central issue of our times.

“So, I’ll be there voting for this crucial Bill to uphold the democratic result of the referendum. I’m grateful to everyone in north Norwich who’s let me know their views.”

On her son, she added: “Being a new parent is great! I’m grateful to everyone who is supporting me while I take leave to begin to raise our son.

“I know it’ll be hard to juggle everything as a working parent but it’s important for that support to be there in my workplace as in any other, so we can have all walks of life represented in Parliament,” she said.