The UK’s paternity leave policy is the least generous in Europe.

New dads only get two weeks of leave, paid at less than half the minimum wage.

It’s time the UK caught up with the rest of the world on this. Please add your name, then share this page with three friends.

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To the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP,

During the election you were attacked for wanting to spend even one night a week with your kids. As fathers and parents, we admired both the commitment you show your family and the conviction with which you were willing to defend it. 

It’s because of that commitment and that conviction that we wanted to write and ask for your help, making sure dads and co-parents across the country can show up for their families just as you show up for yours. 

Today the UK has the least generous statutory paternity offer for new fathers across the whole of Europe. One in three fathers take no leave at all when a new baby arrives, while one in two who do report struggling financially because of it. 

Proper parental leave for fathers and co-parents is good for mothers, good for babies and good for society too including improving health outcomes for all. Research by Pregnant Then Screwed, The Centre for Progressive Policy and Women in Data has found that countries with six or more weeks paternity leave have a 4-percentage point smaller gender wage gap and 3.7 percentage point smaller labour force participation gap than countries that have less than six weeks, meaning change can help grow the economy while helping British families. 

With Labour committed to reviewing parental leave arrangements, we’re asking you to meet with us and consider getting behind our call for parental leave that is affordable for people to take, gives a substantial allowance of time, and supports equality among parents.

We’re asking that you help whole generations of fathers and co-parents close this gap, give them the time they need to spend with their kids and figure out the kind of parents they want to become.

Signed

Pregnant Then Screwed
The Dad Shift
Dope Black Dads
Music.Football.Fatherhood
The Fatherhood Institute
Working Families
Movember
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Letter drafted by The Dad Shift. Research highlighted in the letter is by Pregnant & Screwed, Women in Data, The Centre for Progressive Policy and the Fatherhood Institute