Ask your MP to improve paternity leave!

This evening, your MP has the opportunity to vote for improved paternity leave. Demand their support today.

Fawcett research has consistently shown that our parental leave system is a key cause of the motherhood penalty, gender pay gap and inequality in Britain.

Our maternity pay is too low. Our paternity or second parent leave allocation is one of the shortest and worst paid in Europe. Our parental leave system is complicated and costly.

We’ve finally got an opportunity to change this for the better. Thank you so much for taking the time to write to your MP. You can use our draft text or write your own. Personal experiences can be highly persuasive so do include them if you feel comfortable.

MPs are currently debating new laws on workers’ rights, including for parents. Thanks to Fawcett campaigning efforts, there’s lots of good stuff in the Bill. But the draft laws don’t include specific changes to the pay or length of parental leave allocations.  

Thankfully, a group of cross-party MPs have laid an amendment calling on the government to consult on and eventually introduce PAPA: paid, protected and non-transferable paternity or partner leave for all employees. Use our text below to write to your MP, asking them to support amendment NC7 to the Employment Rights Bill which would require Ministers to consult on, and eventually introduce paid, protected and non-transferable paternity or second parent leave.

This is the first step to a better parental leave system for all parents. Together, we can drive change.