Campaigners Plan 'Dad Strike' To Demand Better Paternity Leave

Fathers are being urged to join the world's first "dad strike" to protest about statutory paternity leave, which campaigners claim is the least generous in Europe.

- Alexandra Topping

They are planning to protest with their babies outside the Department for Business and Trade in London on 11 June to call for the government to improve leave for fathers and non-birthing partners.

The protest, organised by the campaign group the Dad Shift, is being hailed as a "revolutionary" moment in the UK's gender equality movement, with organisers arguing that women will continue to face maternity discrimination if low take-up of paternity and parental leave continues.

Ministers were accused of "betraying" new fathers this week after it emerged that a promised "day one" right to paternity leave would not include the right to statutory pay under the employment rights bill.