Double paternity leave under a Labour government

A question about : Double paternity leave under a Labour government

Today Labour have said that if they win the next election, their government would double paternity leave from two weeks to four. They also said they'd increase paternity pay to Ј260 a week.

What do you think of this move from Labour? Do you think it is well overdue for dads? Or are you happy to let your partner take the time off instead?

Let us know!

Best answers:

• I'd be interested to know what percentage of dads get 2 weeks at full pay already anyway. Would think it's a significant minority. Anyway, as it's to be paid for via tax credit savings, it would seem to be a bribe for the middle classes.
• Another good reason to vote Conservative.
• Load of rubbish. Make it 4 months instead of 4 weeks!
  4 weeks is rubbish!
  Don't trust them to keep any promises anyway. None of them ever do!
• My Oh owns his business so to take 4 weeks off would mean upsetting a lot of his customers and potentially loosing them.
  Personally, I think a lot of Dads are quite pleased to get back to work after 2 weeks to get a break!!!!
  I defiantly support the pay increase though, as someone about to start their maternity leave and having to save up a lot of money before we could even consider trying for even 1 baby.
  But as said above, not many people I know got full pay.
• I know a couple who did, but not the majority. Always going to be tough for the self-employed of course.
• I think they should increase the minimum maternity pay to Ј260 pr week as well.
• Don't the rules change in April to which you could switch to shared parental leave.
  From there if the women signs to say she will only take 50 weeks maternity the partner can then take the remaining 2 weeks at any time during that 50 weeks, ie could have have the standard 2 weeks and then 2 weeks shared parental leave and have a 4 weeks off together.
  So in short it will be possible to take the 4 weeks paternity (as such) very soon if you want to.
• More anti-business rhetoric and bribery from Labour. Clueless !!
• How does the maternity/paternity rights match up with sexual equality?
  Would be great for some inidividuals if companies offered the same extended rights to fathers as they do to mothers. However, I imagine if this was challenged then most companies would probably reduce mothers entitlement rather than extend the fathers.