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Labour: Paternity leave reforms would help 400,000 families

Labour has unveiled plans for a significant boost to paternity leave if it wins the election - doubling the time fathers can take off to four weeks.

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Miliband: Paternity pay rise funded through childcare plans

Labour leader Ed Miliband has said it would fund a planned increase in paternity pay through saving tax credits by extending free childcare to three- and four-year-olds.

The opposition leader met with families to launch what he called 'Father's Month' - a bid to highlight family-friendly policies ahead of the general election in May.

Labour leader Ed Miliband met with families this morning Credit: PA

And he said that extending free childcare - paid for by a bank levy - would save "significantly" more in tax credits than the cost of the extra paternity pay, which is estimated to potentially cost the Treasury £150 million a year.

The modern British family needs government to be more flexible in what it does to help.

Thanks to the last Labour government, fathers have two weeks' paid paternity leave. Millions of families have benefited, with parents saying this has helped them support each other, share caring responsibilities and bond with their children.

But the money isn't great - and too many dads don't take up their rights because they feel they have to go back to work so they can provide for their family.

– Ed Miliband
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Labour: Paternity leave reforms would help 400,000 families

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