Labour’s renewed interest in fathers and childcare (Miliband to double paternity leave and increase pay, 9 February) is welcome. But it is no substitute for thorough reform of the UK’s dysfunctional leave system, with less maternity leave and more parental leave; we need to learn from world-leading countries such as Iceland and Sweden. This in turn is only the start of rethinking and reforming the whole relationship between care, employment and gender, not just in early parenthood but over the whole of working life. Employers can be part of the solution, but only if they engage constructively in finding solutions instead of crying wolf every time any change is mooted.
Emeritus Professor Peter Moss
International Network on Leave Policies and Research
