Push For Paternity March: 3 Dads On The Fight For Better Leave

Hundreds of pram-pushing fathers and their partners are set to take to the streets of London, Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham to bang the drum for better paternity leave.

Currently, many UK dads are entitled to just two weeks off, as standard, after the birth of their child – but plenty of parents agree this isn’t good enough.

Ron Mutira, a father-of-two from Leeds, is attending the Push For Paternity march on Saturday 2 May because “paternity leave is a necessity, not a luxury”.

His wife underwent an emergency caesarean section last month and was told to take six weeks of bed rest to recover.

“But because I’d been at my job for less than a year, I wasn’t entitled to paid leave. I could only afford 10 unpaid days before the cost-of-living crisis forced me back to work,” he told HuffPost UK.

Mutira said he had to leave his wife (“who was physically unable to lift more than the weight of her baby”) to care for their newborn and three-year-old, alone.

“I’m marching because the ‘recovery’ time for a mother shouldn’t be spent in pain and at risk of injury because the father can’t afford to be home,” he said.

“I’m marching to end the guilt of having to choose between a pay check and the safety of my family.”

Earlier this year, changes were made to the UK’s paternity leave offering, which has been slammed as the worst in Europe.

This means dads-to-be now have the right to paternity leave from the first day in a new job, rather than having to wait six months to be eligible – however, this is not paid leave unless they’ve worked for their employer for more than 26 weeks.

Dads can receive £194 per week or 90% of their pay (whichever is lower), however campaigners said these amendments don’t “go far enough”.

Ultimately, fathers and parenting campaigners want to see six weeks paternity leave offered, at 90% of pay.

Mutira said if this had been on the table for him, it would have meant he could have been there for the full duration of his wife’s c-section recovery. (While most women can go home one to two days after having a c-section, recovery can take several weeks.)

“She wouldn’t have been forced to overexert herself, which slowed her healing process and put her at risk,” Mutira continued.

“It would have meant protecting our mental health. Postpartum depression is a real threat to both parents, and the high stress of managing a household in isolation while I was at work was breaking us.”

Matt Bamford, who has a three-year-old and nine-month-old, said he’s marching because becoming a dad changed his life overnight, “but the support around paternity leave didn’t reflect that reality at all”.

“Fathers are expected to be present, supportive and equal parents, yet the system still treats us like optional extras,” he explained.

“This march is about recognising that bonding, care and emotional support in those first weeks really matter – for babies, for mothers, and for dads, too.”

For Bamford, having a longer period of paternity leave would’ve meant “being there properly, without the constant pressure of rushing back to work or feeling guilty for needing time with my newborn”.

“It would have allowed me to support my partner both physically and emotionally, build confidence as a parent, and actually form those early bonds that last a lifetime,” he said.

“Better paternity leave isn’t a luxury – it’s an investment in stronger families and better outcomes for everyone.”

Evidence from countries with more generous paternity leave shows clear benefits: it can reduce the gender pay gap, improve the mental and physical health of mothers, strengthen relationships, help children’s development, and increase fathers’ life satisfaction.

For Nathan Barnes, from Leeds, who has a 14-month-old son, taking part in this weekend’s march is a chance to “change history for future dads”.

“Dads are no longer stereotypes, we want to ensure our families are supported and that we embrace equal parenting. Increased paternity leave for me would have ensured that I could be a supportive partner and been there for the hardest moments.

“I could have developed more of a stronger bond with my son, now I can’t let this moment be wasted where we can initiate REAL change, we have to do this for our future dads.”

The march is being organised by Parenting Out Loud, Growth Spurt, and a coalition of high-profile organisations working with parents across the UK to mark the UK’s inaugural Equal Parenting Week.

Elliott Rae, founder of Parenting Out Loud and Equal Parenting Week, said:
“Fathers are ready to step up, but the system is holding them back. Two weeks of poorly paid leave sends a clear message that dads are optional.

“We are marching to show that equal parenting is not a ‘nice to have’. It is essential for families, men’s health, women’s equality, and for children’s futures.”

You can reserve your spot in the march, which begins at 12pm, at the following locations: London, Manchester, Nottingham and Leeds.