Lib Dems promise to double statutory pay for parental leave

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Under a new policy expected to pass at the party’s conference in Bournemouth, statutory shared parental pay would be doubled from £172.48 per week to £350 per week to ease the burden for new families. Munira Wilson, the Lib Dem spokesperson for education, said that parental leave is “long overdue an overhaul in this country”, as the party also vowed to extend parental leave pay to include self-employed parents. Ms Wilson added: “By doubling shared parental pay and extending rights to self-employed parents, we are taking a giant step towards a more equitable and family-friendly society, with parents given ultimate flexibility for how they spend their child’s first year.” open image in gallery Sir Ed has ruled out any wider electoral pact with Labour to help defeat the Tories at the 2024 election Labour had been hoping to make a bold expansion of free childcare a “wedge” issue and a big part of their offer to voters – but the chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an expansion plan as part of this year’s spring budget. Meanwhile, the Lib Dems’ deputy leader Daisy Cooper has said that the party conference starting this weekend would “fire the starting pistol” on its election campaign.