Mums and Dads down tools, as first ever Parent Strike called in Scotland

28 Aug

Yesterday, Thursday 27 August, Dads Rock took to the streets to organise the Scottish rallies for the world’s first-ever Parent Strike. A incredible nationwide movement saw 13 events take place across the UK, with Scotland making its voice heard as crowds of passionate parents, children, and supporters gathered in force outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and at Glasgow’s Wellington Statue.

Organised nationally alongside Anna Whitehouse (founder of Flex Appeal) and The Dad Shift, the strike saw participants symbolically carry and down toy tools. The gesture highlighted how astronomical childcare costs and outdated workplace policies are putting impossible demands on families and driving down UK birth rates.

The groups demanded two key reforms as the UK Government’s parental leave review enters its final months: flexible working by default and paternity leave set at 6 weeks for at least 90% of pay.

Key Voices from the Rally

The events, hosted by Dads Rock, gave a platform for speakers to set out why structural change is urgently needed:

In Edinburgh, Greg Borthwick from Dads Rock: “Dads today want to take an active role from day one, but existing policies actively prevent them from doing so”.

In Glasgow, Ryan Warren from Dads Rock: “Two weeks is simply not enough time for parents to be able to get to know their baby, to support their partner and establish the foundations for being a family”.

Other speakers included:
Graeme Downie MP:
"Becoming a parent should be one of the best things that ever happens to you — but too many mums and dads are being let down by a system stuck in the past. Two weeks' paternity leave, paid at less than half the minimum wage, just isn't good enough. And too many families are still missing out on the flexible working that would actually make balancing work and childcare possible. I am so proud to have joined today's strike and show my support for six weeks of paternity leave in the UK."
Lynn Houmdi, Founder of Flexible Working Scotland:
"Two in five workers in Scotland can't work at all without flexible working, and many of those are raising the next generation. Parents are expected to build a family life around a system that was never designed for how we actually work and parent today. Flexible working and decent paternity leave aren't perks, they're the foundation that lets parents show up fully, at home and at work."
Cathy Sexton, CEO of Fathers Network Scotland:
"I was shocked by the findings from our 2026 Dads Survey which showed that only a quarter of dads (25%) were able to take more than two weeks of paternity leave, while 1 in 5 (19%) took no paternity leave at all. A massive 78% of dads felt they simply didn't have enough time off on paternity leave to bond with their baby and support their partner."

The Reality Facing Modern Parents

Financial Fear - 60% of parents state fear of financial insecurity deters them from having more children.

Paternity Gap - The UK offers the worst paternity leave in Europe, leaving dads unable to afford time off.

Workplace Barriers - 74,000 mums are pushed out of the workforce annually due to pregnancy and inflexible work structures.

Lisa Holder, Director of Dads Rock, reiterated why yesterday’s turnout was so critical:

"Children thrive when dads thrive, and a massive part of that is giving families a fair start. The current statutory two weeks of paternity leave is a barrier to bonding, a strain on maternal mental health, and completely out of touch with what modern families need. The dads we support want to rock their babies to sleep, share the load at home, and support their partners. They told us they wanted and needed more leave, and we were proud to stand with them to demand the change they deserve."

A Heartfelt Thank You

Yesterday was a monumental team effort. Dads Rock extends a huge thank you to:

Our Partner Organisations: Dad Shift, Flex Appeal, Fathers Network Scotland, Pregnant Then Screwed Scotland, Flexible Working Scotland.
Key Supporters: A massive thanks to Kim from Singing Mamas, Dr Bell's Family Centre, and Kin Collective for standing alongside us and bringing so much heart to the day.
The Media: Thank you to all the journalists, camera crews, and outlets who showed up for us, amplifying the real stories of working families to decision-makers across the country.

Most importantly, thank you to every single parent, carer, and child who came out to Edinburgh and Glasgow to down tools and demand the change families deserve.