The UK government has kept its promises on parental leave, but they weren’t bold enough

Pretty small changes

From April 6, 2026, paternity leave and unpaid parental leave became day-one rights, removing longstanding service qualifying periods that had disproportionately excluded parents in newer or more precarious employment. A new entitlement for bereaved parents who lose their partner within the first year of their child’s birth provides up to 52 weeks of unpaid leave, addressing a significant gap in statutory provision for surviving partners.

Statutory maternity and paternity pay has risen from £187.18 to just £194.32 a week, barely keeping pace with inflation.