The Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has announced his party’s manifesto will include plans to increase statutory maternity pay from £184.03 to £350 a week.
They will also introduce a ‘use-it-lose-it dad month’ of paid leave for new fathers, while paternity pay would increase to 90 per cent of earnings.
The party argues this would increase choice for families and help more new fathers take time off work to spend time with their child in those crucial first weeks and months, in turn helping Mums to stay in their chosen careers.
Liberal Democrats would also make paid parental leave a day-one-right at work, rather than the current 26 week period which means those in new jobs don't qualify, and extend them to self-employed parents.
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