Six weeks' leave for new dads? MPs call for major paternity overhaul
A new report says UK paternity leave rules are outdated and unfair – here’s what’s being proposed
Dads in the UK could soon get six weeks off work with almost full pay after their baby is born, under new proposals from a group of MPs calling for urgent change to outdated paternity leave rules.
A cross-party report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) says the current UK system for parental leave is one of the worst in the developed world – and is failing modern families.
The committee is calling for bold reforms, including a phased increase in paid paternity leave to six weeks and an uplift in paternity pay to 90% of a parent’s usual earnings.
Why MPs say the current system isn’t working
Right now, new dads (and other non-birthing parents) are entitled to just two weeks of statutory paternity leave – paid at £187.18 per week or 90% of their earnings, whichever is lower. It hasn’t changed since 2003.
That works out as less than half the National Living Wage – and if you’re self-employed or earn less than £123 a week, you’re not eligible at all.
The committee says this is “completely out of kilter with the cost of living” and fails to support modern parenting roles.
Other countries are doing much better
Compared to other developed countries, the UK falls far behind when it comes to paid paternity leave:
- Spain: 16 weeks off at full pay
- France: 28 days paid paternity leave
- Sweden: 480 days of paid leave, with 90 days ring-fenced for dads
In the UK, many fathers feel pressured to return to work before their two weeks are even up – often for financial reasons.
George Gabriel, co-founder of campaign group The Dad Shift, told the BBC: “The pie is small and the crumbs left for dads and non-birthing parents are honestly pretty pitiful.”
‘I felt like I was letting my family down’
James Yeates, a dad from Suffolk, returned to work just two weeks after his son Luca was born in September 2024.
“Although it was the happiest moment of my life, I felt like I was leaving my partner in the lurch,” he told the BBC. “There would be times when my partner was struggling and I’d have to leave to go to work.”
James works for the NHS, who topped up his statutory pay, but he still feels he missed out on crucial bonding time and the chance to properly support his partner.
What about shared parental leave?
The current system allows parents to split up to 50 weeks of leave, but uptake is very low. Fewer than 2% of families use it, and many dads say they’re not even aware it’s an option.
The committee says shared parental leave is too complex, and puts an unfair burden on lower-income families, who often can’t afford to use it.
What happens next?
The government is currently reviewing parental leave entitlements and is expected to report back before mid-July.
A spokesperson said: “This government is committed to making sure parents receive the best possible support to balance their work and home lives.”
Changes could include removing the 26-week employment requirement for dads to qualify for leave, as well as the larger reforms proposed by the WEC.
But campaigners say families can’t afford to wait. Kathy Jones from the Fatherhood Institute said: “Families shouldn’t have to wait until the next Parliament for this to come in.”
With hundreds of dads expected to protest in London this week in what’s being called the world’s first “dad strike,” the push for better support for new fathers – and fairer leave for all parents – is gathering momentum.
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Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.