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Tories plan extra parental leave Tories plan extra parental leave
(about 1 hour later)
Parents should be given more time to look after a newborn baby and the option to swap parenting duties more easily, says Tory leader David Cameron.Parents should be given more time to look after a newborn baby and the option to swap parenting duties more easily, says Tory leader David Cameron.
On the eve of the Conservatives' Spring Forum in Gateshead, Mr Cameron said he would allow parents to take up to 26 weeks leave together if they wished.On the eve of the Conservatives' Spring Forum in Gateshead, Mr Cameron said he would allow parents to take up to 26 weeks leave together if they wished.
He said flexible parental leave would help make Britain more family-friendly.He said flexible parental leave would help make Britain more family-friendly.
But the government has criticised the idea, saying that few families could afford to be out of work for so long.But the government has criticised the idea, saying that few families could afford to be out of work for so long.
'Changing world''Changing world'
On the day Mr Cameron was filmed at the family breakfast table, he said: "The world is changing. Men want to be more involved in bringing up their children. That's why flexibility is a really good thing."On the day Mr Cameron was filmed at the family breakfast table, he said: "The world is changing. Men want to be more involved in bringing up their children. That's why flexibility is a really good thing."
The BBC's political correspondent Ben Wright says the Conservative party is keen to look family-friendly and it believes its policy would enable parents to divide up paternity leave more flexibly than Labour's current proposals.The BBC's political correspondent Ben Wright says the Conservative party is keen to look family-friendly and it believes its policy would enable parents to divide up paternity leave more flexibly than Labour's current proposals.
The government plans to extend maternity leave to 52 weeks by 2010.The government plans to extend maternity leave to 52 weeks by 2010.
Unless we support the family and make this country family-friendly, we'll never solve the really big problems David CameronConservative leaderUnless we support the family and make this country family-friendly, we'll never solve the really big problems David CameronConservative leader
After the first 26 weeks, parents would be able to choose whether the mother or the father stays at home.After the first 26 weeks, parents would be able to choose whether the mother or the father stays at home.
The Tory proposals would offer 52 weeks flexible leave to both parents to divide as they choose.The Tory proposals would offer 52 weeks flexible leave to both parents to divide as they choose.
In theory, mothers and fathers could stay at home together for as long as six months while receiving a mixture of paid leave and statutory pay.In theory, mothers and fathers could stay at home together for as long as six months while receiving a mixture of paid leave and statutory pay.
Such rights would be extended to same-sex couples.Such rights would be extended to same-sex couples.
'Out of touch''Out of touch'
Mr Cameron said: "It's not just when the baby arrives that can be exhausting, it's after about three or four months when the mother is tired and the baby's not sleeping through the night.Mr Cameron said: "It's not just when the baby arrives that can be exhausting, it's after about three or four months when the mother is tired and the baby's not sleeping through the night.
"That's when families may need more flexibility and choice."That's when families may need more flexibility and choice.
"Labour believe that the state should dictate from the top but we believe that it is the mums who are doing the really heavy lifting in terms of bringing up our children and giving them the right support.""Labour believe that the state should dictate from the top but we believe that it is the mums who are doing the really heavy lifting in terms of bringing up our children and giving them the right support."
The Tory big idea on the family shows how out of touch they are with hardworking people John HuttonBusiness SecretaryThe Tory big idea on the family shows how out of touch they are with hardworking people John HuttonBusiness Secretary
His idea will be discussed by party delegates on the first day of the Tory conference, at which London mayoral hopeful Boris Johnson and the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, will also speak.His idea will be discussed by party delegates on the first day of the Tory conference, at which London mayoral hopeful Boris Johnson and the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, will also speak.
But it is already been given short shrift by the government, which has accused the Conservatives of lacking credibility on family policies.But it is already been given short shrift by the government, which has accused the Conservatives of lacking credibility on family policies.
Business Secretary John Hutton said: "Whether it is the mother or the father staying at home, the majority of families still need one parent going out to work to pay the bills.Business Secretary John Hutton said: "Whether it is the mother or the father staying at home, the majority of families still need one parent going out to work to pay the bills.
"The Tory big idea on the family shows how out of touch they are with hardworking people."The Tory big idea on the family shows how out of touch they are with hardworking people.
"Very few families would be able to take advantage of offering paternity leave to both parents at the same time because this implies a major drop in family income at the critical moment in a newborn baby's life." He said very few families would be able to take advantage of offering paternity leave to both parents at the same time, "because this implies a major drop in family income at the critical moment in a newborn baby's life."