Come this September, Alex Latham-Reynolds will be shaking the status quo. He’ll be the first dad in UK Parliament to benefit from his new enhanced paternity leave. This move comes amidst an ongoing conversation about the nation’s paternity leave policies. Critics counter there is no cause for celebration, as these policies are some of the least supportive in all of Europe.
Leave for new dads in the UK is currently set at a meagre two weeks statutory paternity leave. This leave is compensated at a flat rate of £184.03 per week. Even with this pitiful provision, one in three fathers in the UK do not take any paternity leave after the birth of their child. This one statistic uncovers tremendous cultural and structural barriers. These difficulties make it less likely that fathers will feel comfortable taking time off to bond with their new babies.
The campaign for improved paternity leave has gained momentum, fueled by voices such as Shaun Davies, an MP who actively champions these changes. Perhaps most importantly, he passionately advocates for a better system. This new system must allow fathers to engage in caregiving from the very beginning of their children’s lives. British Labour MP Luke Charters made headlines recently with the announcement that he would be taking at least four weeks of paternity leave. He is excited to spend more time with his second son when he arrives. Now, Charters has deep and widespread support with his constituents. This marks an increasing recognition of the importance of paternal engagement to early childhood development.
“Paternity leave – any parental leave – is not rest, it’s essential caregiving at the start of a child’s life.” – Luke Charters
In 2021, the UK government responded by passing a bill. This legislation provides female ministers with six months of paid maternity leave. Nevertheless, this legislation has not been made to apply to fathers, and calls for reform have become increasingly louder. The cross-party women and equalities select committee has labeled the UK’s statutory parental leave system as “one of the worst in the developed world,” pointing out its “fundamental flaws.” They have recommended that new fathers should be entitled to six weeks off work to foster meaningful connections with their children.
Stella Creasy made headlines in 2020 as the first MP to utilize a pilot program that provided full locum cover during her maternity leave. Her experience has helped to educate and encourage other MPs who are thinking about taking paternity leave themselves. In fathers’ rights news Ian Murray became the first ever cabinet minister to take paternity leave in full. This was just shortly after the birth of his second child.
Advocacy groups have taken notice of the pressure for change. The Dad Shift campaign pulled off a real energizing “dad strike” in London. They brought these men, baby in hand, directly outside the Department for Business and Trade, calling attention to the immediate need for improved policy. The movement seeks to disrupt traditional societal definitions of fatherhood and focus on promoting split caregiving responsibilities between parents.
Ipsa chair Richard Lloyd said the public body was “seriously focused on making this place a much more family-friendly institution”. He stated that they are “continually looking at ways to support a family-friendly parliament.”
As Latham-Reynolds prepares for his upcoming paternity leave, Mrs. Side note: If he follows through on this decision, he will trigger a dramatic cultural change in UK politics. The momentum he has built among his peers and his constituents is a testament to the shifting culture around fatherhood and work-life balance.
“Being an MP is a privilege. It’s one of the busiest jobs in Britain, but I’ve got to be a dad first and an MP second.” – Luke Charters
Charters had a big impact by showing the power of leading by example. He called on fellow fathers to consider taking paternity leave, regardless of what’s on their plate professionally. He encourages other men to choose their families and support them during those important first weeks.
“My message is: we’re fighting for you to have enhanced paternity leave regardless of how busy your job is. If you can, do spend those important first few weeks with your son or daughter, building those lifelong memories. Nothing is more important.” – Luke Charters
As you can hear, the discussion has gotten really fired, both inside of Parliament and outside it. In the UK, people are starting to make some noise for more progressive paternity leave policies. Leaders like Charters and Latham-Reynolds are making an impactful legacy today. Their experiences can and should lead to reforms that recognize the important role dads can play in raising their kids from day one and beyond.