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Give men a year off work to bring up baby, urges Clegg
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent7 Jan 2009
MEN should be able to take up to a year off work after becoming fathers, says Nick Clegg.
The Liberal Democrat leader, whose wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez is due to give birth to their third child next month, is calling for a shake-up of paternity leave laws.
But business chiefs are likely to be alarmed by his demand for parental leave of up to 19 months. Currently, new fathers can take two weeks' paid paternity leave - condemned by Mr Clegg as pathetic.
He echoed the concerns of many experts that the lack of a father figure can be partly to blame for social problems and crime.
Mr Clegg wants fathers to be allowed to stay at home for up to a year if the mother returns to work after six months. He said this would allow men to spend time with a child beyond the "cooing and wiping phase". He added: "One of the great crises for children, particularly for boys, is a lack or absence of positive male role models. And we've got legislation that says you can take two weeks off when the baby's barely aware of your existence.
"If dads don't get involved with their kids early on in a meaningful way, often they don't remain engaged afterwards."
Mothers can now take up to a year's maternity leave, nine months with pay. Ministers are extending the right of parents with children under 16 years to ask for flexible working hours.
Mr Clegg, who has irritated several of his top team of MPs after being overheard criticising them, today voiced unhappiness at the behaviour of Brian Paddick, the former Lib-Dem mayoral candidate for London, and MP Lembit Opik, who failed in an attempt to become party president.
He felt "uneasy" at Mr Paddick's decision to appear on the TV show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.And Mr Opik writes a column for the Daily Sport - a paper Mr Clegg said he would not allow in his house.
But he added: "We are a liberal party in spirit and in name. There's a long tradition of fairly eccentric individuals."
Reader views (46)
stop giving clegg a hard time!! he'd be a better PM than snobby posh dave and dont even get me started on gordon clown.
- Dee, edinburgh, 02/02/2010 14:07
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Refreshing comments from Amber in Mitcham and Sarah Bradshaw. The world is over populated as it is, particularly this part of it, so why encourage people to breed. Oh, yes, of course, because it's a vote grabber!
- Jeff Arendse, Parsons Green, 12/01/2009 09:43
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I am sick to death of having to cover for maternity leave.
If people wish to breed then let them do the cover. I would never have expected someone else to do my job for 9 month whlst I was having a baby, as most firms of smaller content cannot afford a lot of agency employees.
Anyway, all the new mums I know have been delighted when their husband's two weeks leave is up and they can get on with the task of looking after their new child.
- Amber In Mitcham, Mitcham Surrey, 10/01/2009 19:53
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Why any days off at all? Husbands are much better out of the house at work. O.K. Help out when you are back from the office,do the shopping and generally make yourself useful but to expect paid leave is no more than theft from the employer. Why should he be burdened with the cost because you have decided to breed??
- Mordwinoff, Lisle France, 09/01/2009 16:51
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Were has Clegg been living for the past ten years - MARS. This man is clearly suffering from some kind of brain disorder. Thk god he will never be the Prime Minster of this Country
- J Bridge, Chard, 09/01/2009 16:50
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You are all WRONG. This works fine in Europe and it is about time the UK got up to speed with modern legislation. I think the fact is that many men would be terrified at the option of having to be defined by something other than their work but as this is now a prospect facing many of those made redundant, now might be the time to redefine the role of the father.
The 'nine months paid leave' for mothers is a joke - you try living on statutory maternity leave with a couple of kids! Just as many women are being forced back to work early as they cannot afford to be on leave whereas Europe and enlightened companies such as BT recongnise that a mum is less ill, more hard working and less likely to bolt and supports maternity leave accordingly.
the UK needs to get modern now.
- Penny, Essex, 09/01/2009 16:15
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I have always advocated that politicians should have a full medical examination including a mental assessment before taking office. I rest my case!!
- Reginald S. Briggs, Wimborne, Dorset, England, 09/01/2009 16:01
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You start to wonder where these politicians are, they are certainly not in the real world.
In an economic downturn could firms afford workers being off for a year, could the familys afford it, money is tight and he wants to put more costs on business....
- Nigel Wheatcroft, wimbledon, 09/01/2009 10:37
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It does not matter a hoot what the clown say's, he will never get in, it just rubbish!
- George Dorman, gillingham, 08/01/2009 23:04
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Who makes up this nonsense ?...Talk about a nanny state !! A year off work every time you produce a child !! No need to work again ...what a life .I'll sign up for that . You couldn't make up this stuff .
- Disgusted Of Tunbridge Wells, Edison usa, 08/01/2009 22:26
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Nobody needs a year off from work. Any man can make a baby, but that does not make him a father. A man who wants to be a father will be, no matter what obstacle arises
- Denise G, Usa, Louisville, 08/01/2009 17:18
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Sara Bradshaw, Enfield.
WELL SAID, What about those of us without kids?
- P I Staker, London, 08/01/2009 17:06
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Just think, if the one year rule had been implemented boom & bust Brown might still be on leave in Scotland and wouldn't the country therefore be better off?
- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK, 08/01/2009 16:55
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Then a socialist government can employ another 2 million to replace those of leave. Grow up you foolish man.
- Mike,, London, 08/01/2009 16:52
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Well said Sarah Bradshaw! Those of us without children get no benefits, only criticism if we have to go sick. Yet parents get it all and single people are expected to cover for them. This could be another nail in the coffin for British industry.
- Sue, London, 08/01/2009 15:54
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Another humdinger from the National Silly Party.
- Ken, Bexleyheath, 08/01/2009 15:17
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Rubbish. I was not allowed any time off work (and I could not have done my job if I had taken time off)
We need to have a COMPETITIVE economy - things like this will make us less competitive and then we all lose
- Anglo, Sussex UK, 08/01/2009 13:36
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I am sick to the back teeth of hearing how the government wants to bend over backwards to help parents. What about those of us who don't reproduce like it's going out of fashion? We don't sponge benefits, we don't even take time out for maternity leave, we aren't responsible for hooligans terrifying pensioners, yet we get NOTHING! Sometimes I feel like pretending I have got kids just so I get some of the benefits that the rest of these maggots do.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 08/01/2009 13:22
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What a good idea!!! That way men will be like women, all one year off.
- Mercedes, london, UK, 08/01/2009 13:11
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How on earth would business be able to afford this? If the father stays home then the mother can work surely? The lack of male role models is due to absent fathers not fathers going out to earn a living. We have successfuly raised generations with working fathers so what does Mr.Clegg think has suddenly changed?
- Mark, London, 08/01/2009 12:47
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Mother's have managed well enough over thousands of years to bring children up. Man has always been the provider and long may it continue. However, if the man feels he needs to take time off unpaid, just don't expect his employer to stand still while he's away. Life ain't like Sky+ !
- Paul, London, 08/01/2009 12:19
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I like it. My wife and I are planning on having six children so if I arrange to have one every year could I take six years paid paternity leave? PS I usually need some retraining after a three day weekend.
- Frank, ex-England, 08/01/2009 11:57
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After the next general election Clegg will have plenty of time on his hands, much longer than a year!
- Steve.W, B'ham UK, 07/01/2009 18:46
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Let the women look after the children and the men bring home the bacon.
- Judith C, London, UK, 07/01/2009 18:30
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I question the work ethic of people who would support this silly idea, or at least I question their having thought this through. The more important part of rearing children isn't 'enjoying watching them grow' or whatever - it is providing for them. They aren't simply a 'gift to be enjoyed' - they are a responsibility. It is going out and contributing (taxes) to the infrastructure that makes their lives more viable.
And the comment about being heavily taxed? Isn't everyone who has a meaningful job in Britain?
- Rogan, Irving, 07/01/2009 17:50
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Gold help us. Labour, conservatives and this lot. We really are screwed. No wonder they are worried about extreme parties taking over this country we are ripe for it. Mind you with this lot I might just vote someone else.
- Fly, london, 07/01/2009 17:40
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Would anybody miss him?
- Alex, brighton, 07/01/2009 17:07
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I'm just about to be a father for the first time and will get two weeks paid paternity leave from my employer. I would love to take 3 months off to help out at home and see the little one but thats not an option.
And before anyone talks about sponging off the state/tax payer, I'm a very heavily taxed individual who's been working for 20 years and would happily not take a penny for the entire 3 months in pay or even statutory paternity leave even if it was available at some punitive weekly rate.
So I'd support any policy that helps us dads out with a little more flexibility to spend with our children.
- Damian, London, 07/01/2009 16:56
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I'm all for fathers having more time to spend with their kids, but this man has lost the plot. Add Gordy and his John Bull printing set into the mix, and it doesn't look great for poor old Blighty eh? Can't the electorate start a vote of no confidence to get rid of them or have we got to wait for Gordon to switch the light off?
- Jim, London, 07/01/2009 16:51
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And just when I thought that Vince Cable was creating a perty to be listened to with his business head along comes his boss with this stuff....bonkers
- Raymond, London, 07/01/2009 16:33
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I think Nick Clegg needs to take a yar of - or perhaps two or three or more.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 07/01/2009 16:27
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Look at the upside - no Clegg for 18 months!
- Dave, London England, 07/01/2009 15:13
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This guy needs to start taking his medicine again. Either that, or go back to the shrink and get his condition re-evaluated. Reality seems to be receding into the background apparently.
- Rogan, Irving, 07/01/2009 15:05
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Good old lib dems, always completely out of touch. At a time when people are struggling to hold on to their jobs, i hardly think forcing employers to give people a year off is acceptable.
On that note i saw an Ad in the Metro today public sector related and it spoke of 'generous' pension, '40 days' holiday, and various other benefits not to mention good pay..
dont our political masters think its time they started acting a little more 'prudently' - Gordon over to you
- Abigail, London, 07/01/2009 14:11
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Ha ha ha ....
We just had triplets. Can I have the next three years off work please.
Thank you, sucker tax payers for funding my day-time TV viewing. Mmmm. Nice!
- Haskey, London SE1, 07/01/2009 13:56
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What an idiot.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 07/01/2009 13:23
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And what planet does he live on.
- Chris, Woking. UK, 07/01/2009 13:20
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I'm pregnant and my husband hasn't even been given 2 weeks paternity - the most his job will allow is 2 days - the rest is statutory. Ridiculous if you ask me, especially as 2 weeks is all a father gets....I think it should always be FULL PAY no matter where you work.
Also, I fully support Clegg - I personallly think that men should be allowed up to a year off after their baby is born. Paid or statutory - this would help especially if the case is that the mother is the higher income earner. She could go back to work and the husband could take over.
I also agree with the fact that there is more crime due to the fact most children do not have a strong father figure to look up to.
it looks like most of the above comments are from ppl who own small businesses and who probably employ at a cheap rate too - shame on you.
- Anon, London, UK, 07/01/2009 12:59
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Cap. Do you object to the women having children and sponging off the state to support them? Or the ones having children and going to work so that they can afford to 'feed and clothe' them? You seem to despise both categories. Presumably you would rather the human race became extinct and women gave up having children altogether. So you're the 'victim' of those who choose to reproduce, are you? What would actually happen if we all decided to become 'non-childed'? You would face a future with no young people around in the workforce to pay your pension, or look after you in the care home when you're old? Stop getting so angry about how others choose to live their lives and get on with the business of living yours.
- Lw, London, 07/01/2009 12:38
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The comment about this are quite amusing, never a sensible view, always one extreme or another.
In some scandanavian countries you share 18months leave between the mother and father.
Seems to work for them why not us?
Oh and yes I am a new father and would love the extra time with my daughter.
- Liberal Thinker, UK, 07/01/2009 12:20
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Being the cynic that I am, I can't help wondering if most fathers of new-borns would prefer to be given extra over-time . . . ?!
- Roz, Chamonix, France, 07/01/2009 11:22
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That is really going to help small companies and attract inward investment!!
- Jeremy E, London, 07/01/2009 11:22
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19 months? Are you having a laugh Mr Clegg? Not even Mothers get that much time off. Maternity and paternity pay is not enough to keep families going through what is a very expensive time so I doubt anyone would be able to take maximum leave anyway.
However, if you keep putting pressure on small businesses to support families I can assure you that most leave takers will not have a job to come back to.
Incidently, what is wrong with fathers spending their evenings and weekends encouraging their children?
- Smb, London, UK, 07/01/2009 11:10
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I had thought the Lib Dems were growing up and becoming more business friendly (Orange Book). Business needs this potty idea like a hole in the head.
- Alan, London, 07/01/2009 11:01
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What a pointless exercise.
Round here, it isn't going to work or not that's the problem, it's women having children without the means to feed and clothe them.
As a non-childed 'victim' of repeated 'family friendly' policies, I would want them repealed.
Some (non-childed) worker has to pick up the work for the childed people.
They have a choice whether or not to have kids, I never get a choice about covering their absence !
- Cap, london, 07/01/2009 10:15
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Surprising how the world has gone on for thousands of years without men needing maternity leave. Clegg needs to realise that, in the current economic climate, no one lucky enough to have a decent job will want to absent themselves from work for a long period. They will drop out of the loop during the absent period and threaten their future promotion.
- Robin, Brentford, UK, 07/01/2009 09:46
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