15 h. ago I'm taking eight months' paternity leave – and it's changing my relationship with my children | Ilyas Nagdee

I’ll never tire of witnessing many ‘firsts’ for my second-born, but this is a luxury that should be afforded to everyone, not just those who can pay for itWhen I told people I was taking more than eight months of parental leave, the main reactions I got were: “What are you going to do with all that time?” and “won’t you get bored?” These questions came from every direction – including health professionals involved in my wife’s pregnancy and the arrival of our second child.More than halfway through my leave, I’ve been reflecting on what good parental leave looks like: leave that allows families to take the time to adjust to the new rhythms of family life. Thanks to a new policy at my work that gives parents six months of paid parental leave, in addition to annual leave, I will be returning to work not when our newborn is still tiny, our toddler is adjusting to a sibling and their mum is recovering from birth, but when our son is eight months old. This is markedly different to when ou...

Politics

60 h. ago New parental leave changes putting ‘dignity back at heart of work’

The Government states this will offer an additional 1.5 million parents increased flexibility to share childcare responsibilities

Politics

3 d. ago Starmer hails parental leave changes as putting ‘dignity back at heart of work’

The Government states this will offer an additional 1.5 million parents increased flexibility to share childcare responsibilities

Politics

8 d. ago Former England star reveals addiction that 'destroyed' relationship with children

Jonjo Shelvey has lifted the lid on an addition that ruined his relationship with his three children, with the 33-year-old now plying his trade in the United Arab Emirates

Politics

8 d. ago Former Premier League star reveals addiction that 'destroyed' relationship with children

Jonjo Shelvey has lifted the lid on an addition that ruined his relationship with his three children, with the 33-year-old now plying his trade in the United Arab Emirates

Politics

1 week ago ITV The Masked Singer schedule change leaves fans all saying same thing

ITV announced a schedule change hours before The Masked Singer returns to screens

Politics

2 w. ago Yes, I live hundreds of miles apart from my husband... but this is why it's the secret behind our long and happy marriage: JENNI MURRAY

I never cease to be surprised by the fascination people seem to have with my 46-year relationship with my husband David, the father of my two children.

Society

2 w. ago Beyond Kegels: I found a fix for a common type of incontinence – why don’t more women know about it?

After years of worrying that running or sneezing would leave me needing fresh underwear, a quick, minimally invasive procedure changed my lifeSome of my earliest memories feature my mother’s leotard-encased body bouncing to Jane Fonda with abandon. A similar carefree fluidity prevailed a decade later, as her feet struck hard-packed sand on a shorebreak jog. Twelve-year-old me panted alongside, so desperate to be made in her image that I tolerated heated cheeks and shaking quads. Their trembling barely subsided during the one stop we made, for her to wade into the waves and pee.But it got easier to keep up after she gave birth to my youngest brother, with her squatting in the bushes every 10 minutes or so. Soon, even that wasn’t enough to staunch the flow. She gave up and switched to hiking. “I should have done more Kegels,” she quipped. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Adam Peaty ‘uninvited Olympic swim pal from wedding’ leaving him ‘broken’ as insiders fume: ‘It shows how he’s changed’

ADAM Peaty has been accused of uninviting an Olympic swimmer he was good friends with from attending his wedding to Holly Ramsay. Those close to the feuding Peaty family claim gold medallist Michael Gunning was shunned after "staying close" to Adam's mum Caroline. In a heartbreaking post days before the couple's nuptials, Michael admitted he...

Politics

2 w. ago BBC Breakfast viewers left baffled as live broadcast cut short

BBC Breakfast finished at 8:45am on Sunday morning instead of its usual time, leaving viewers questioning the schedule change

Politics

2 w. ago The new employment laws for 2026 including changes to sick pay, family leave and wages

A range of new measures and adjustments to current laws will be rolled out in two separate waves

Society

2 w. ago BBC EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy shares 'amazing' change since leaving soap

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy, who played Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap for 32 years, has shared her 'lovely change' since leaving the show earlier this year

Politics

3 w. ago The 50 best arthouse films of all time ranked: From The Red Shoes and Vertigo to Moonlight

These are the movies that put the art in arthouse and leave their audiences profoundly changed

Politics

last month Bruno Fernandes reaction shows Man United formation change leaves more questions than answers

Manchester United led three times against Bournemouth but failed to see it out and shared eight goals as they missed out on the chance to go fifth in the Premier League.

Politics