MP launches petition
A petition has been launched by Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley to support the campaign to introduce paid miscarriage leave before 24 weeks.
Last week, 53 MPS from nine political parties and independents backed a cross-party letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging the UK Government to support the campaign.
Members of the public will now have their chance to back the campaign by signing the petition which will be delivered to Downing Street ahead of the second reading of Angela Crawley MP’S Private Members’bill next month.
The bill seeks to introduce three days of statutory paid leave for parents who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, however, under current legislation, workers are only entitled to paid bereavement leave following a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Some companies have already gone further than the bill proposes and offer paid leave for between seven and 14 days for people who experience a miscarriage at any stage of the pregnancy.
Other countries, including New Zealand, have written similar provisions into law and in September Australia became the latest country to adopt paid miscarriage leave.
Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley told the Advertiser: “It is time for paid miscarriage leave and that is why I have launched this petition calling on the UK Government to back my private members’bill.
“Already, MPS from every party have supported the campaign which shows there is a clear consensus at Westminster that parents who experience a miscarriage should be entitled to paid leave so that they can grieve their loss.”
She added:“miscarriage can be one of the most traumatic experiences that parents can face in their lifetime and thousands of parents go through this heartache without any government support.
“The stigma attached to miscarriage is stopping thousands of parents seeking the help and support they deserve.
“By supporting my bill, the UK Government can provide the support grieving parents need and together we can finally end the stigma associated with miscarriage.”