Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced a sweeping review of the UK’s parental leave system, with proposals that could see paternity leave and unpaid parental leave become legal rights from the first day of employment.
The 18-month review, led by the Department for Business and Trade, will assess the current framework, which entitles mothers to up to 39 weeks of leave on reduced pay, while fathers are limited to just two weeks of paid paternity leave. Ministers believe the current arrangements may be outdated and could be limiting productivity.
As part of the review, the Government will consider reforms such as allowing fathers to take paternity leave after a period of shared parental leave, something not currently permitted. Officials are also exploring ways to increase uptake, as one in three new fathers do not take their entitled leave and shared parental leave remains underused.
Ms Rayner said the Government is committed to building a parental leave system that works for modern families:
“Those early years are the most special time for families, but too many struggle to balance their work and home lives. Supporting working parents isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s vital for our economy,” she said.
“Through our Plan to Make Work Pay, we’re already improving the parental leave system with new day-one rights. This ambitious review will leave no stone unturned as we deliver for working families.”
Family advocates welcome paternity leave
The review has been welcomed by campaigners and family advocates who have long argued that the UK’s approach to paternity leave is outdated and unequal.
George Gabriel, co-founder of The Dad Shift, said, “The Government’s review of parental leave is the best chance in a generation to improve the system and make sure it works for working families. When the last Labour government introduced paternity leave, it was groundbreaking, but that offer, unchanged since, is now the least generous in Europe.”
Campaigners argue that unequal leave policies can harm both parents and children, and that reform could benefit not just families, but also businesses and the wider economy.
The parental leave review comes at a time when the UK faces warnings over its lagging productivity. The Office for Budget Responsibility is expected to revise down Britain’s productivity forecast this summer, adding urgency to efforts to support working families and boost labour market performance.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, who is also leading controversial welfare reforms, said modernising parental leave could play a crucial role in supporting families and the economy.
“Every parent should have the chance to spend time with their children during those precious early years,” she said.
“This review delivers on our Plan for Change to support families and give children the best start in life. By listening to parents and employers across the country, we’ll build a system that works for today’s working families.”
The findings of the review are expected to inform long-term legislative reforms that could reshape parental leave rights across the UK.
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