Newcastle dad-to-be Mark Ferries has joined a nationwide campaign for better paternity leave, warning that financial pressures are forcing many fathers to miss the "crucial early weeks" with their newborns. Ferries, who is expecting his first child, is backing The Dad Shift, a campaign group that is calling on the government to extend paternity leave to at least six weeks at 90% of pay.
Current Paternity Leave Entitlement
Under current UK law, fathers and partners are entitled to up to two weeks of paternity leave. This also applies to a mother's partner, a child's adopter, or the intended parent of a child born through surrogacy. However, campaigners argue that the statutory pay rate—currently £172.48 per week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower—makes it unaffordable for many to take time off.
The Dad Shift Campaign
The Dad Shift has slammed the UK's paternity leave as "woeful" and is urging the government to align with European standards. The group notes that the European average is eight weeks at full pay. To raise awareness, campaigners have placed posters at nearly 300 football grounds across the country, including Newcastle's St James' Park, with messages such as "Football's coming home, Let's make sure Dads can too."
Mark Ferries said: "Footballers famously don't take much time off when a baby arrives, but we do know every new dad would like a better chance of showing up for their loved ones in those crucial early weeks. Too many dads are opting not to take time off as they can't afford it on the current rates of paternity leave, and self employed dads get nothing, so we’re asking Toon fans to get behind our call for change."
Public Opinion and Research
Recent polling by More In Common for men's health charity Movember and The Dad Shift found that 92% of Brits believe it is important for dads to spend time with their babies in the early months. However, 50% of fathers say financial pressure prevents them from taking more leave. Earlier research by the groups revealed that 82% of fathers identify better paternity leave as the single biggest thing the government could do for new dads' mental health.
Alex Lloyd Hunter from The Dad Shift said: "Like football, raising a baby is a team game. This generation of dads wants to play the full 90 minutes, but we're being benched almost immediately after kick off. We’re calling for the Government to extend paternity leave to at least six weeks, at 90% of pay. The European average is eight weeks at full pay, so this really isn’t too much to ask."
Government Response
Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden acknowledged the societal shift towards greater paternal involvement. She said: "One of the best changes I've seen in my lifetime is men wanting to be more involved in their children's lives. That is a huge societal change and it's one that's having a positive impact on children's lives - especially in those crucial first few weeks and months when mothers are often recovering from childbirth."
Dearden added: "We are determined to make sure dads and partners can be there for as much of it as possible which is why we've already changed the law to give 32,000 more partners access to paternity leave, and are carrying out a full review of parental pay and leave so that the law can reflect these hugely positive changes and so that parents can spend as much time doing what matters most – caring for their baby."
Impact on Families
Campaigners argue that inadequate paternity leave not only affects fathers' mental health but also places additional strain on mothers and children. The Dad Shift advocates for a systemic overhaul to ensure both parents can bond with their child and share caregiving responsibilities from the start. The campaign continues to gain momentum, with posters at football grounds and growing public support for reform.
