How will the new Labour government support working parents? This was the question poised by the MP, Luke Charters, who is shortly to take up paternity leave for the birth of his second child.

“We are conducting a review into parental leave, because you cannot grow the economy if parents have to choose between work and their children.” was the response from Keir Starmer.

This signals a crucial step toward addressing the evolving needs of working families - but will it lead to real change?

Recently, the UK Government’s has made a promise to working parents:

By September 2025, working parents will be able to claim 30 hours of free childcare a week, over 38 weeks of the year, all the way through from nine months up to their child starting school.

The promise of 'free childcare' has sparked both hope and skepticism for working parents. We at WOMBA, believe that while the intention behind the pledge is noble, it risks exacerbating existing inequalities rather than alleviating them.