Dozens of MPs will tell groan-worthy 'dad jokes' in the House of Commons on Thursday to draw attention to what they call the 'real joke' of UK paternity leave, which campaigners say has become a class issue. The stunt, organised by paternity rights group the Dad Shift and construction community On the Tools, comes a day after International Men's Day.
UK statutory paternity leave pays £187.18 a week, the least generous in Europe, and ranks 40th out of 43 OECD countries. It accounts for just 1.9% of all government spending on parental leave, with the rest going to maternity leave. Self-employed co-parents do not qualify for state support.
Analysis of HMRC data by the Dad Shift reveals that 90% of paternity leave claims in 2024-25 were made by fathers in the top half of earners (earning over £37,800 a year), and 95% of shared parental leave (SPL) claims came from the same group. No SPL claims were made by fathers or partners in the lowest 20% of earners.
George Gabriel, co-founder of the Dad Shift, said: 'It's clear that who can afford to spend time with their kids is becoming a class issue. A system that gives dads less than half the minimum wage is not designed to be used by working fathers.' An Opinium survey for the group found 64% of fathers concerned that most paternity leave is claimed by higher earners, and 58% agreed it is becoming a class issue.
The debate, organised by Labour MP Josh Newbury, will also feature Liberal Democrat MP Freddie Van Mierlo, who said: 'We need to send a message loud and clear: this isn't good enough and something needs to be done.' Labour MP Alistair Strathern noted a shift in parliament, with more fathers calling for better parental rights, and pointed to the government's review of parental leave announced in July as a sign of progress.
