Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing increasing pressure from within his own party to enhance statutory paternity leave ahead of Chancellor John Healey’s upcoming budget. More than 100 Labour MPs—over a quarter of the party’s parliamentary group—have signed a letter urging Burnham to extend paternity leave provisions to address financial challenges faced by families amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The letter, coordinated by Labour peer Frances O’Grady, former Trades Union Congress general secretary, alongside MPs Maya Ellis and Jon Pearce, calls on Burnham and Healey to take immediate action to support families with newborns. It emphasizes that fathers in lower-income households, including those in Burnham’s own constituency of Makerfield, often cannot afford to take current statutory paternity leave. According to data cited in the letter, about half of fathers in Burnham’s area are unable to afford paternity leave, highlighting growing concerns over economic disparities.

Current UK statutory paternity leave is limited to two weeks at £187.18 per week—less than half the national living wage—and is mainly claimed by higher earners, with 90% of all paternity leave taken by fathers in wealthier regions such as London and the South East. This contrasts sharply with uptake in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the North West and North East of England combined. Campaigners argue that the UK ranks among the least generous countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), placing 40th out of 43 nations for paternity leave benefits.

The letter proposes increasing paid paternity leave to six weeks, compensated at 90% of earnings, a change estimated to generate £2.6 billion in economic growth. Supporters contend this policy would promote more equitable access to leave across different regions and socioeconomic groups, potentially benefiting local economies nationwide.

Backing the call for reform, nearly half of Labour’s 403 MPs have expressed support for enhanced paternity leave, including two secretaries of state, 11 ministers, six whips, and approximately two dozen parliamentary private secretaries. One Labour insider noted that nearly a quarter of government office holders have formally endorsed the initiative, with many others expressing private support.

Frances O’Grady underscored the growing consensus within Labour ranks, stating that the policy enjoys broad appeal, particularly among blue-collar voters who are often unable to benefit from existing leave arrangements. “Andy Burnham has shown that he understands the everyday pressures families face,” she said, highlighting the potential for improved paternity leave to foster greater optimism and better outcomes for families.

The campaign aligns with a broader movement, including charities, unions, and academics, which recently called for a comprehensive overhaul of the UK’s parental leave system to make family life more financially sustainable. Groups such as the Fawcett Society, the TUC, and Mumsnet emphasize that the current system not only disadvantages parents economically but also risks undermining long-term social and economic wellbeing. A recent report by Maternity Action found that over half of women on maternity leave resort to borrowing money to cover living expenses, illustrating the financial strain associated with early parenthood.

Activism around this issue has intensified in recent months. In August, thousands participated in coordinated “parent strikes” across cities including London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Brighton, and Oxford, demanding better parental leave provisions. George Gabriel, co-founder of the campaign group The Dad Shift, noted that expanding paternity leave is one of the few policy measures that can simultaneously promote economic growth and help mitigate the cost of living pressures experienced by working families.

The government’s parental leave review is expected in December, but many Labour MPs and campaigners are urging Burnham to make a firm commitment to improving paternity leave in the forthcoming budget, viewing it as a politically compelling and socially beneficial measure.