Fake Babies in Slings Are Showing Up on Statues of Men in the United Kingdom — Here’s Why

Mar. 15, 2025

The Dad Shift

Activists have affixed these symbols of parenthood to statues of prominent figures in London and Edinburgh as they push government officials to expand the current requirements for parental leave, according toThe GuardianandEdinburgh Evening News.

According to both outlets, statues ofGene Kelly, Thierry Henry and Isambard Kingdom Brunel are among those that have been targeted in London, while statues of Robert Fergusson, Ken Buchanan and Wojtek the Soldier Bear in Edinburgh found themselves part of the grassroots campaign.

The group also reportedly plans to deliver anopen letterto newly-appointed Prime MinisterKeir Starmerlater this month.

The open letter, shared on the Dad Shift’s website, asks Starmer to help implement better options for father and co-parents, which the advocates believe would “help grow the economy while helping British families.”

A Thierry Henry statue outside the Emirates Stadium.The Dad Shift

“Proper parental leave for fathers and co-parents is good for mothers, good for babies, good for fathers and good for society too including improving health outcomes for all,” the advocacy group said in its letter.

They are also suggesting that countries with six or more weeks paternity leave “also have a gender pay gap that’s 4% smaller and a workforce participation gap that is 3.7% smaller too.”

Currently, the U.K. mandates up to two weeks of parental leave, which the Dad Shift described in its letter as “the worst statutory paternity offer for new fathers across the whole of Europe.”

Fathers and co-parents who take the leave only receive £184.03 (or $242.11) a week in compensation, according toThe GuardianandEvening News.

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In their plea to the prime minister, the Dad Shift reminded Starmer of his “commitment” he showed to his family during the election, when he was criticized for spending time with his loved ones.

“It’s because of that commitment and that conviction that we wanted to write and ask for your help, making sure dads across the country can show up for their families just as you show up for yours,” the group said.

The Isambard Kingdom Brunel statue at Paddington station.The Dad Shift

The Dad Shift’s letter calls on Starmer to meet with the group and “consider getting behind” the advocacy group’s call “for parental leave that is affordable for people to take, gives a substantial allowance of time, and supports equality among parents.”

“Give dads the time they need to spend with their kids and figure out the fathers they want to become,” the group concluded.

source: people.com