Jo Swinson, who introduced the original Shared Parental Leave in the Coalition Government, said:
“The Liberal Democrat introduction of Shared Parental Leave was a massive step towards more equal parenting, and recognising the vital role that fathers play. Parents across the UK have already benefitted from greater flexibility and freedom in how they share the care for their new baby. But more needs to be done in order to encourage men to take leave when they become a dad, to bond with their child during the early weeks and months of their life. Research shows that fathers being more involved in their children's lives is good for children's development and good for the health and happiness of the whole family.”
CIPP comment Shared Parental Leave was introduced in 2015 and recent research by Working Families found that 52% of fathers would make use of the scheme. The Chief Executive of Working Families said that Shared Parental Pay should be a day one right and pay should be equal to statutory maternity pay.
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Further workers' rights protections promised by PM 16 May 2017
The Prime Minister is promising what she says would be the biggest expansion of workers' rights by any Conservative government, if the party retains power.
BBC News has reported that the Conservative’s manifesto will pledge to keep all workers' rights currently guaranteed by EU law, put worker representation on company boards and protect pensions.
Under the election plans, there would also be a statutory right to a year's unpaid leave to care for a relative and statutory leave for parents whose child has died.
Other measures would include new protections for people in the gig economy, a statutory right to training, measures to protect workers' pensions in the wake of the BHS scandal, and a guarantee that European Union rights will be protected in the Brexit process.
The national living wage for workers aged 25 and over, currently £7.50 an hour, would rise in line with average earnings until 2022.
The Tories would also insist listed companies had representation for workers on their boards - whether on advisory panels, as a non-executive director or through a directly appointed worker representative - although firms would not be forced to have actual employees in the boardroom.
CIPP comment BBC News has a useful General Election 2017 Policy Pledge Tracker which provides a summary of significant policy commitments made by the four main contenders so far during the election campaign. The tracker is being updated as new pledges are made.
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Conservative Manifesto 2017 19 May 2017
By 2020, the increase to the personal allowance to £12,500 and the higher rate income tax threshold to £50,000 will still happen under a conservative government.
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