A Decade After Shared Parental Leave Introduction, Uptake and Impact Remain Limited in the UK
Ten years after the introduction of shared parental leave (SPL) in the UK, experts say the policy has failed to deliver the intended cultural change and call for bolder measures to enable more men, including those who are lower earners, to spend time with their babies.
Freedom of information data reveal that SPL uptake remains very low in major public bodies. Between 2020 and 2025, across NHS England, Scotland and Wales, HMRC, the Ministry of Justice, and the Department for Work and Pensions, only 4,264 of 274,755 parental leave requests (about 1.55%) were for SPL. Similarly, in four major public-sector employers over the last five years, just 1 in 64 parental leave requests were for SPL.
SPL allows up to 52 weeks of leave in total, including up to 39 weeks of statutory shared parental pay. However, a 2023 Conservative government evaluation found that only 1% of eligible mothers and 5% of eligible fathers made use of SPL.
HMRC data for 2024–25 show that SPL claims were overwhelmingly made by fathers in the top half of earners, those earning more than £37,800, with uptake declining among the bottom half. Critics argue that SPL largely benefits wealthier families in the southeast of England and has become a class issue, failing to reach most working fathers and non-birthing parents.
Shared parental leave was introduced with advocacy from Jo Swinson in 2015, who since has called for bolder changes such as a "take it or leave it" approach granting time off specifically for fathers, criticizing the current policy for lacking backing and momentum.
In July 2025, the government launched an 18-month review of the parental leave system. Meanwhile, MPs have warned that mere tinkering will not suffice, and measures included in the workers’ rights bill aim to establish paternity leave as a right from day one.
