New measures announced ahead of the budget aim to ease financial pressures on families by extending parental pay eligibility to self-employed fathers, addressing a long-standing gap in support for working parents. The move is expected to benefit thousands of dads who previously lacked access to statutory paternity leave, allowing them to take time off without facing financial hardship. While the decision has been welcomed by groups representing men, calls remain for further reforms, including an increase in statutory maternity pay, which currently falls short of minimum wage levels after the first six weeks. Advocates argue this would provide critical support to new mothers and strengthen economic stability for families in their early months.
Removing tariffs on more than 100 products, including gherkins and baked beans, was one of five measures announced this morning before tomorrow’s budgetBack to “everyday fixes” (see 9.07am), and groups representing men have welcomed the news that self-employed men will be able to qualify for parental pay.The Labour MP Amanda Martin, who co-chairs the Labour Men and Boys group, said:I’ve long believed that self-employed dads deserve the same chance as everyone else to be there for their families when a new baby arrives, so I’m delighted that this is becoming a reality. It’s about time self-employed fathers got the support they deserve.Self-employed tradies build our homes, fix our heating and keep our lights on, so ensuring they can access paternity leave is a proper mark of respect for the people who keep our country going. This will make a real difference to tens of thousands of dads each year, giving them the chance to welcome their children into the world and be present fathers without facing financial ruin. I’m especially pleased that self-employed dads in my home city of Portsmouth will benefit.Paternity leave is a cost of living lifeline for new families. This decision gives self-employed dads breathing space and a chance to show up for their loved ones when they’re needed the most.We’re pleased to see the chancellor recognise cost of living pressures on families and carers in his package of pre-announced measures. The lack of statutory paternity pay for self-employed fathers was a massive gap in parental leave …We hope the chancellor will go further in his cost of living budget and increase statutory maternity pay as well. State support for new mum’s still sits at less than half of minimum wage beyond the first six weeks. Our cost benefit analysis of extending this to 12 weeks and raising pay to the national living wage found it was a net positive to the exchequer and would make the world of difference to families in the first nine months of their children’s lives.Not because we want war – we have no quarrel with the Russian people, and we have no desire for war with Russia; Nato is a defensive alliance – but when Putin gives assurances that he has no intentions to provoke a war with Nato, we are reminded of what he said about Ukraine only days before the invasion.The more ready we are to face against Russia, to defend every inch of Nato territory, the less likely we are to find ourselves in that scenario.Poland is one of our greatest and certainly our most reliable friend in Europe, and we value and treasure this friendship very much. Continue reading...
