Tradesmen across the UK are calling on the government to fi x a system that leaves thousands of dads in the trades unable to afford time off when their baby arrives, with campaigners saying it’s time for change.
Last week, self-employed tradesmen joined On The Tools and The Dad Shift in Westminster to make their frustration impossible to ignore. In an attention-grabbing stunt, they handed MPs condoms labelled “this lasts longer than our paternity leave”, highlighting how outdated the UK’s parental leave system is for self-employed dads.
The message clearly landed. The campaign has since been picked up across national press and echoed inside Parliament, with MPs including Amanda Martin MP, Connor Rand MP, Luke Charters MP, Paul Waugh MP, and Sam Rushworth MP attending the event. Later this week, Josh Newbury MP will raise the issue directly with Employment Minister Kate Dearden.
The campaign is supported by Equimundo, Movember, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, alongside growing public pressure for government action.
Lee Wilcox, CEO of On The Tools, said:
“This huge hole in our nation’s paternity leave system needs fi lling fast. Too many self-employed tradesmen can’t afford to take even one day off when their baby arrives. Dads in the trades, like every new parent, want to show up for those precious fi rst few weeks for their partner and new baby without being left out of pocket for doing so.”
Alice Lester, Senior Brand and PR Manager at On The Tools, added:
“Every week we hear from tradesmen who’ve had to make the impossible choice between earning a living and being there for their baby. These are people who build our homes, fi x our heating, and power our communities, yet they’re being let down by an outdated system. It’s encouraging to see MPs finally paying attention and recognising how unfair this is. No new dad should have to return to work the day after their child is born just to keep the lights on. As someone expecting a baby this year with a self-employed partner, I know that this issue doesn’t just affect dads – it affects the whole family.”
Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows the cost of extending statutory paternity pay to self-employed dads would be as little as £13.6 million a year – a small price for a change that could improve life for tens of thousands of working families.
The need is clear. A national poll by On The Tools found that one in three construction dads didn’t take any time off when their last child was born, with over half saying they couldn’t afford to support their families while missing work. Many said they felt unsafe on-site from exhaustion during those early days of parenthood.
George Gabriel, Co-Founder of The Dad Shift, said:
“Your average tradesman can build a crib in less time than they get off to bond with the baby that’ll sleep in it.
It’s unacceptable that working blokes are left totally unsupported in one of the most important and challenging times of their lives. It’s time for Labour to fi x this.”
Momentum is now building in Westminster, with MPs across parties acknowledging that today’s system leaves self-employed parents behind.
Amanda Martin MP, Co-Chair of the Labour Group for Men and Boys, said:
“Self-employed tradesmen build our homes, fi x our heating, and keep our lights on. The least we can offer is the dignity of being able to welcome their child without facing financial ruin.”
The Westminster event saw campaigners pose between high-vis jackets and baby photos – a powerful image of modern working fatherhood. Their simple props, including the tongue-in-cheek condoms, drove home one serious truth: without reform, the UK’s self-employed dads will keep being short-changed on family time.
A short campaign video produced by On The Tools and The Dad Shift is also available for media use, showing moments from Parliament Square, interviews with attending tradesmen, and reactions from MPs. Journalists are encouraged to share or embed the footage to help raise awareness of the issue.
Alice Lester added:
“Dads in the trades just want the same opportunity to be there for the milestones that matter. It’s inspiring to see this issue finally being discussed in Parliament, and it feels like the start of real change.”
