Once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform parental leave


In July 2025, the Labour Government committed to a once in a generation review of parental leave, honouring Labour’s Manifesto pledge to “best support working families”. The Parental Leave Review represents a rare opportunity for the Government to introduce substantial reforms to our outdated system of parental leave. It couldn’t come sooner, as the UK is one of the ‘least family friendly’ countries in Europe (UNICEF). Never have we had this opportunity to truly change lives for parents, children and families when it comes to parental leave – we’re unlikely to get it again.

Led by the Fawcett Society and Movember, organisations across the women’s, men’s and family sectors have come together with academics and experts to call for a parental leave system that works for all families. We deserve a system that doesn’t push parents into poverty, respects the work of taking care of a new baby with proper pay, and supports equality, not gender stereotypes.

POLICY ASKS FOR A PARENTAL LEAVE REVIEW SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE

Taken together, the following asks, listed in no particular order, are intended to improve the parental leave system to advance gender equality, support the health of parents, carers, and children, and help all parents and carers with the costs of having a family. They should do this by enabling parents to participate more equally in both paid work and caregiving, while ensuring that no family is excluded from adequate support.

To achieve this, the system must reflect and work for the diversity of all families, including single parents, kinship carers, adoptive parents, parents with a disabled child, and parents facing serious illness, by closing the gaps that currently exclude them from adequate leave and pay entitlements.

The Review is due to conclude at the end of 2026. We’re calling on the Government to commit to the following measures:

Strengthen Maternity and Adoption Pay
Extend statutory maternity and adoption pay from 6 to 12 weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings, and increase statutory pay for weeks 13–39 to the National Living Wage or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

Strengthen Leave and Pay for Fathers and Second Parents
Introduce six weeks of non-transferable statutory paternity leave, paid at 90% of average weekly earnings.

End the Disadvantage Faced by Self-Employed Parents
Bring parental pay for self-employed and other workers into line with what employed parents receive. This should be treated as unearned income for the purposes of Universal Credit.

Make Parental Leave a Genuine Day-One Right
Ensure all parental leave and pay entitlements are available from day one, regardless of earning level or employment status.

A COLLECTIVE VOICE

Charities, academics and experts have come together to make a collective call on the Government to fix parental leave

Charities and Networks

Fawcett Society
Movember
Pregnant Then Screwed
The Dad Shift
Women's Budget Group
Fatherhood Institute
JRF
Mumsnet
Save the Children
Equimundo
Kinship
Young Women's Trust
Future Men
Beyond Equality
Maternity Action
Dads Rock
Both Parents Matter
Taraki
Global Action on Men's Health
Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys
The Family Services Foundation
Male Allies UK
Mother Pukka
Seek Parenting Ltd
Deliberate Dad
The Parent Experience

Unions

TUC
UNISON
UNITE
The Teachers Unions
RMT
Musicians Union

Universities, Academics and Individuals

King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, King’s College London
University of Lincoln
Joeli Brearley
Growth Spurt

Heejung Chung
King’s College London

Margaret O’Brien
University College London

Emma Banister
University of Manchester

Jamie Atkinson
Manchester Metropolitan University

Krystal Wilkinson
Manchester Metropolitan University

Helen Norman
University of Leeds

Mark Gatto
University of Northumbria

Patricia Hamilton
University of York

Anna Tarrant
University of Lincoln

Joanna Clifton-Sprigg
University of Bath

Susan Milner
University of Bath

Michelle Weldon-Johns
Abertay University

WHO HAS CONVENED THIS EFFORT?

Recognising the need to speak with one voice as a sector, the Fawcett Society and Movember commissioned Future Advocacy to bring together a small group of organisations to prioritise a list of policy asks that would advance gender equality and lead to a fairer parental leave offer for parents. This group was made up of Movember, the Fawcett Society, the Trades Union Congress, the Women’s Budget Group, the Dad Shift, Pregnant then Screwed and Working Families. The group came together and prioritised the asks listed above based on their submissions to the consultation.

The group has now been joined by a broader group of organisations.

SIGN UP

Does your organisation back these asks? Add your voice to our collective action by getting in touch with parentalleavereview@futureadvocacy.org