The Spectator

Paternity madness

It is becoming clear that the stability of the past decade has happened in spite of rather than because of government policy

issue 15 October 2005

There were three news stories this week which might at first appear to be unrelated. The government announced that its forthcoming Work and Families Bill will give new fathers the right to take six months’ unpaid paternity leave. The BBC demanded that its licence fee rise at 2.3 per cent above inflation over the next eight years, perhaps taking it to £200.

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