Stars from music, entertainment and politics braved the weather to attend our photocall to mark the 2nd reading of Tracy Brabin’s #Selfieleave bill on Friday 26th October.
Unfortunately the bill was not passed, but we received some positive press including 10-minute feature on BBC London News, and our founder was also interviewed for BBC6 Music News.
Speaking after the rally, PPE founder Olga FitzRoy said: “It is deeply disappointing that we did not get the support we needed from the government for SelfieLeave Bill today. This is a major blow to self-employed parents in the creative industries and many other fields, and makes no sense given the government’s recent £3 million advertising campaign for Shared Parental Leave for employees.
“We plan to fight and I would urge the Chancellor to intervene and use his Budget on Monday to push forward this cost-neutral policy that would do so much to help self-employed parents.”
Tracy Brabin MP said: “This delay is disappointing but simply a bump in the road. With so many campaigners determined to see Shared Parental Leave extended to include freelancers and the self-employed it’ll inevitably become law soon.
“I implore Ministers to look seriously at this bill and sit down with campaigners, trade unions and politicians to implement this important change in the law.”
UK Music CEO Michael Dugher said: “It is indefensible that self-employed parents in the music industry and elsewhere are being denied what is essentially now a basic workplace right.”