18th March 2025
Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame called on the government to accept amendments to the Employment Rights Bill that would extend paternity leave from two weeks to six weeks, providing parents with more time to bond with their newborns and support their partners during the critical early stages of parenthood.
As a relatively new father himself, Freddie stressed the importance of giving parents more time to bond with their newborns and provide vital support to their partners. He believes that extending paternity leave is a necessary step in promoting equality and providing better support for families.
Freddie van Mierlo remains committed to pushing for expanded parental leave, recognising that it is an important step towards creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for all families.
Commenting on the amendments Freddie van Mierlo said:
"Extending paternity leave from two to six weeks would be a positive step to ensure that parents can be more involved at a time when their families need it the most. This change would make a real difference to families across the country.
The U.K. has amongst the worst provisions of paternity leave in Europe and the OECD. I welcome the governments review of parental leave, but it needs to be acting far more quickly. The Lib Dem amendments to the Employment Rights Bill would have brought much needed change immediately”.
