http://www.mirror.co.uk
The radical proposal is contained in a report published on
Father’s Day today, calling for a “zero tolerance” approach to absent
dads.
Getty
Fathers would be forced to sign their baby’s birth certificate under a crackdown on runaway dads.
The radical proposal is contained in a report published on Father’s Day today, calling for a “zero tolerance” approach to absent dads.
At present, only the mother’s name has to be registered. About 45,000 babies a year are born without their father’s name on their birth certificate. If the father is not registered, he is described on the certificate as “unknown”.
Top Labour MP David Lammy is behind the idea with his report, Doing Family: Encouraging Active Fatherhood, part of Labour’s wide-ranging policy review.
His report says: “The most basic expectation is that a dad will be there for his children – and he should show that by signing the birth certificate.
“Requiring both parents to sign the birth certificate would send out a powerful message that our expectations of mums and dads are equal.”
He also says: “Children who have active, engaged fathers are more likely to grow up to become happy, healthy, successful adults than their peers whose fathers do not play a substantial role.”
The report accuses David Cameron of sending out “mixed messages” after he appeared to support the idea before he became PM, only for it to be dropped by the coalition government.
But Mr Lammy’s report says exceptions should be made where naming the father would be unsafe for mum or child.
Other proposals include self-employed fathers being entitled to paid paternity leave. At present they get no financial help.
It also says expectant dads should get paternity pay at the same rates as mums and paid time off to attend at least one ante-natal session.
Mr Lammy said: “We should have high expectations of all fathers, and help them to live up to those expectations. And we should be very clear that it is not acceptable for fathers to decide to play no role in their children’s lives.”
The Fatherhood Institute’s Adrienne Burgess said politicians, employers and public service bosses were waking up to changes in families, but must “stop acting as if only mums are responsible, only mums matter.”
The radical proposal is contained in a report published on Father’s Day today, calling for a “zero tolerance” approach to absent dads.
At present, only the mother’s name has to be registered. About 45,000 babies a year are born without their father’s name on their birth certificate. If the father is not registered, he is described on the certificate as “unknown”.
Top Labour MP David Lammy is behind the idea with his report, Doing Family: Encouraging Active Fatherhood, part of Labour’s wide-ranging policy review.
His report says: “The most basic expectation is that a dad will be there for his children – and he should show that by signing the birth certificate.
“Requiring both parents to sign the birth certificate would send out a powerful message that our expectations of mums and dads are equal.”
He also says: “Children who have active, engaged fathers are more likely to grow up to become happy, healthy, successful adults than their peers whose fathers do not play a substantial role.”
The report accuses David Cameron of sending out “mixed messages” after he appeared to support the idea before he became PM, only for it to be dropped by the coalition government.
But Mr Lammy’s report says exceptions should be made where naming the father would be unsafe for mum or child.
Other proposals include self-employed fathers being entitled to paid paternity leave. At present they get no financial help.
It also says expectant dads should get paternity pay at the same rates as mums and paid time off to attend at least one ante-natal session.
Mr Lammy said: “We should have high expectations of all fathers, and help them to live up to those expectations. And we should be very clear that it is not acceptable for fathers to decide to play no role in their children’s lives.”
The Fatherhood Institute’s Adrienne Burgess said politicians, employers and public service bosses were waking up to changes in families, but must “stop acting as if only mums are responsible, only mums matter.”
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