Peter Lamb MP Joins Calls for Fathers to be given extra time through increased Paternity Leave in the week of Father’s Day

Peter Lamb, Labour MP for Crawley has joined the campaign for fathers to be given “Extra Time” with their families, backing a campaign from Movember and The Dad Shift to improve paternity leave in the UK.

Ahead of England’s opening World Cup match and in the week of Father’s Day, MPs are donning World Cup shirts provided by The Dad Shift emblazoned with the campaign call.

The shirts have been customised so on the back, instead of a player’s name, the MP’s role as a caregiver is highlighted, whether that be as a Mum, Dad, Uncle, Aunt, Nana, Mate or Friends. Beneath the shirt number 2 campaigners add “WEEKS ISN’T ENOUGH” referring to the two weeks on less than half the minimum wage currently offered to British dads – the least generous

New research from Movember and The Dad Shift found that:

• 45% of UK fathers experience symptoms of depression or anxiety during their baby’s first year and nearly 1 in 15 new dads experience suicidal thoughts
• 82% of fathers say better paternity leave is the single biggest thing government could do to support their mental health
• 92% of the public say enabling dads to spend time with their babies is important or very important and 60% back increasing paternity leave and pay

Campaigners have been keen to remind people that over half the paternity leave currently claimed in the UK goes to higher earners, because the low pay makes even 2 weeks unaffordable to most working blokes. The government meanwhile is currently running a review of Parental Leave due to conclude this December with an announcement expected in January.

Peter Lamb MP said:

“Paternity leave has been shown to be better for children’s cognitive and behavioural development, better for building strong emotional bonds and family stability, and delivers better support for mums when they need it most. We all want the nation’s children to have the best start in life and better paternity leave is an important part of making it happen.”

The Dad Shift co-founder George Gabriel said:

“Just 3% of parental leave currently goes to dads. It’s like forcing mums to play the full 90 minutes and then sending on fathers for injury time. That’s not good for anyone and it’s exciting that there’s finally some real moment to change it. Two weeks isn’t enough time to bond with a new baby, support a partner, or find your feet as a parent. The shirts make the point simply: dads need extra time.”

MPs have donned their shirts, provided by The Dad Shift, in support of Movember’s Extra Time With Dad landing in Men’s Health Week and follows a celebrity-led launch event in Westminster featuring fathers, campaigners, sports personalities and MPs calling for change.