A Carterton mother has taken part in a striking national campaign calling for urgent reform to the UK’s paternity leave policy, considered the least generous in Europe.
Tasha Whiteside, a local parent, joined the demonstration on Sunday by hanging baby grows spelling out the message “Two Weeks Isn’t Enough” on washing lines near Blenheim Palace. The Oxfordshire protest was one of over 100 coordinated events nationwide, backed by 15 Members of Parliament and mental health charity Movember.
The stunt marked the start of Mental Health Awareness Week and aimed to spotlight the mounting evidence that poor paternity support is fuelling a hidden crisis in new fathers’ mental health.
UK Fathers in Crisis: New Data Reveals Alarming Trends
New polling commissioned by advocacy group The Dad Shift and Movember reveals:
- 45% of new fathers experience at least two symptoms of clinical anxiety or depression in their baby’s first year, with a continued significant increase in anxiety.
- 7% report suicidal thoughts.
- A 1 in 10 reported frightening thoughts such as deliberately hurting their baby.
- 82% believe better paternity leave is the single most important policy change the government could make.
These figures are significantly higher than previous estimates, which suggested just 10% of fathers experienced perinatal depression.
Oxfordshire Action in a National Movement
Sunday’s action was part of the #DadStrike campaign, which saw baby grows hung at landmarks including Premier League stadiums, city halls, and the White Cliffs of Dover.
Tasha, who recently gave birth via emergency C-section, joined the Nation-wide protest to support The Dad Shift’s campaign, setting up at Blenheim Palace
“I wanted to take part in the baby grow stunt to raise awareness. My husband used two weeks of paternity leave and two weeks of annual leave — and even that wasn’t enough,” she said.
“We both struggled mentally and emotionally with the adjustment. Two weeks of paternity leave is simply not enough for the entire family.”
“Until policies change, dads and non-birthing partners will continue to feel pressured to return to work too soon — sacrificing bonding, recovery support, and their own wellbeing just to avoid risking their jobs.”
She added that many people “don’t realise how poorly the UK compares to the rest of Europe” and urged for stronger support of the campaign.
The UK currently offers just two weeks of statutory paternity leave, paid at £184.03 per week, less than half the minimum wage.
Pressure on Fathers, Pressure on Families
The campaign highlights three overlapping strains affecting new fathers:
- Financial: Two weeks of leave costs the average UK dad over £1,000 in lost wages, just as families face up to £10,000 in first-year baby costs.
- Work-related: 73% of fathers say they’re not mentally ready to return to work after two weeks.
- Family impact: 86% of dads say short paternity leave harmed their partner’s wellbeing, and 70% say it damaged their own mental health.
Real Voices Behind the Campaign
One father, Tom Windle, a self-employed landscaper from Wiltshire, with no entitlement to paternity pay, took six weeks’ unpaid leave after both of his children were born via emergency C-section. Seven years later, he’s still struggling financially, and nearly lost his life to the stress, with significant impacts on both his and his wife’s mental health.
Calls for Reform Grow Louder
MPs from across the political spectrum are now supporting the campaign.
Sarah Smith MP (Hyndburn) said:
“This research shines a harsh but necessary light on what too many families already know: our paternity leave system is failing new dads and putting enormous pressure on families at one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives. No parent should have to choose between mental health and putting food on the table. It’s time that we made paternity leave fit for purpose.”
James Frith MP (Bury North) added:
“New dads are being forced to choose between keeping the lights on and being there for their newborn. That’s not a real choice. The bond between a dad and his baby begins from day one — that’s when trust is built, confidence grows, and families are shaped. If we want a better future, we need to back parents — and that starts with giving dads a fair deal from day one. Strong families build a stronger Britain.”
What Happens Next
Campaigners are urging the government to address the issue in its upcoming Men’s Health Strategy, due later this year. They’re calling for:
- At least six weeks of statutory paternity leave
- Increased pay levels to match the national minimum wage
- Support for self-employed parents, who currently receive no statutory paternity pay
A “DadStrike” demonstration is planned for Wednesday 11 June at the Department for Business and Trade, where fathers will stage a symbolic “family-friendly picket line” just days before Father’s Day.
How to Take Part
Families are being encouraged to respond to the government’s open consultation on men’s health by visiting the website and making their voices heard.
