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- Fathers will able to take time off and claim state benefits for first year
- The mother will be able to return to work after just a fortnight
New fathers will be able to share 'maternity' leave and pay with mothers under controversial new laws to be announced by David Cameron and Nick Clegg. The pair will confirm later this month that they have overcome Cabinet opposition to implement their pledge of 'flexible parental leave' - although the scheme will be delayed by several months. Under the plans, fathers will be able to take time off work and claim state benefits throughout most of the first year of their baby’s life - if the mother returns to employment. The mother will be able to return to work after just a fortnight. However, the joint allowance will be delayed until October 2015 because some members of the Cabinet believed the scheme was anti-business. The plans were blocked initially in Cabinet by Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, and Oliver Letwin, the Cabinet Office minister. Theresa May, the Home Secretary and Mr Clegg were keen to push ahead. Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, was also originally opposed amid concerns that it could be seen as anti-business......Read more here: Maternity leave 'will be shared by fathers' under new plans designed to make parenting more flexible | This is Money