PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP
FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alistair Strathern, MP for Hitchin, has this week for called for paternity leave reform in Parliament.
Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on paternity pay, Mr Strathern said the current system was out of date and needed updating for the countless families who have to make heartbreaking decisions between seeing their new child and working.
Mr Strathern said he has spoken to many families who had to squander their savings, or take prolonged unpaid leave, due to unequal paternity pay and leave.
The current parental leave system entrenches gender divides and unfairly distributes the burden of parental responsibility.
Mr Strathern welcomes the Governments first steps on the issue, including introducing day one rights to paternity leave through the Employment Rights Bill. He will be pressing the Government to make the most of this opportunity to make parental leave work for all.
Alistair Strathern MP said:
“It was fantastic to speak in this very important debate. It is clear from conversations I have with new parents that we badly need parental leave reform.
“All too often our system places the burden of parental responsibility in a very gendered way. We need reform to break this trend and ensure both parents can be around for those crucial first few months.
“I was delighted to vote for day one paternity rights in the Government’s Employment Rights Bill. I will be working with the Government to make sure we make further progress.”
Editor’s Notes
You can watch Mr Strathern’s speech here
You can see a transcript of the debate here
You can see an image of Mr Strathern during the debate, attached.
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