MP for West Dunbartonshire Martin Docherty-Hughes is calling on new Prime Minister Liz Truss to give the right to paid leave for parents who experience miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Ahead of the second reading of the Miscarriage Leave Bill in the Commons, local SNP MP Martin has signed a cross-party letter to Prime Minister Liz Truss and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Jacob Rees-Mogg calling for the UK government to review its position and back the Bill.
If successful, the Miscarriage Leave Bill would introduce a statutory right for parents to a minimum of three-days paid leave in the event of a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy.
The letter has been supported by 50 MPs from eight parties and independents as well as the Miscarriage Association, Mumsnet, Miscarriage Support, the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, Tommy’s, Sands, SiMBA and campaigner Keeley Lengthorn.
Introduced by SNP MP Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton East) under the Ten Minute Rule, the Miscarriage Leave Bill is set to receive its second reading in December.
Up to one in four pregnancies will end in miscarriage however, there is currently no provision in place to support grieving parents through their loss before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Countries including Australia and New Zealand have already introduced paid miscarriage leave and Northern Ireland is set to do so before 2026.
Commenting, Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“There are many families in West Dunbartonshire who have gone through a miscarriage. It can be a devastating experience and there should be no concerns about having to take sick leave from work.
“I hope the Prime Minister listens to our campaign. I will be pressing the UK government to support the Miscarriage Leave Bill when it returns to the Commons for its second reading.
“By offering a statutory right to paid leave for parents who experience miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy, the UK can take a positive step towards ending the stigma associated with pregnancy loss.
““There is no cut off point for grief so there should not be a cut off point for providing support to parents who experience miscarriage.”
SNP MP Angela Crawley added:
“A new Prime Minister brings a change to the heart of government and with that there is an opportunity for them to review and change their stance on miscarriage leave.
“My Private Members’ Bill will return to the Commons in December and I am hopeful that the new government will get behind it and support parents who experience miscarriage.
“By providing a statutory right to paid leave in the event of a miscarriage, we can challenge the stigma and allow parents to properly grieve their loss.”
Miscarriage Association National Director Ruth Bender Atik said:
“For many people, miscarriage is the loss of a baby, however early it happens, and is often felt as a bereavement like any other.
“A period of statutory leave would not only allow people some time off to start their recovery, but it would also be a clear public recognition that pregnancy loss can have a very real and significant impact on those going through it.
“We wholeheartedly support this bill and hope the Government will take this opportunity to support people at a what can be an extremely difficult and distressing time.”
Information about support for families affected by miscarriage is available at: www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
