On Thursday, a group of Members of Parliament (MPs) will share humorous anecdotes known as “dad jokes” in the House of Commons to spotlight concerns surrounding paternity leave in the UK. This initiative, which coincides with International Men’s Day, is organized by the paternity rights campaign group, the Dad Shift, in collaboration with the construction community On the Tools.
The campaign highlights the disparity in paternity leave in the UK, which is reportedly among the least generous in Europe, with only £187.18 offered weekly. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the UK ranks 40th out of 43 countries concerning paternity leave provisions. Currently, statutory paternity leave encompasses just 1.9% of total government spending on parental leave, with the majority allocated to maternity leave. Notably, self-employed co-parents do not qualify for state support.
George Gabriel, a co-founder of the Dad Shift, emphasized that many low- and middle-income families face challenges in taking leave to be present with newborns. Data indicates that in 2024-25, a significant majority of paternity leave claims were made by fathers in the top half of earners, revealing potential class disparities. Additionally, a survey conducted by Opinium for the Dad Shift revealed that 64% of fathers are concerned about paternity leave access being skewed towards higher earners.
Alistair Strathern, a Labour MP, noted that the willingness of MPs to participate in this light-hearted event suggests a growing recognition within parliament of the need for equitable parental rights. He mentioned the government’s recent review of parental leave as a sign of responsiveness to these issues. The debate, arranged by Josh Newbury MP, seeks to send a message that reforms are necessary.
As part of the event, MPs will deliver jokes collected from a public competition, illustrating a unique blend of humor and advocacy to address serious concerns within parental leave policies.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/nov/20/paternity-rights-dad-jokes-parliament-uk