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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

for thinking Bojo shouldn't take paternity leave

146 replies

Crunchymum · 29/04/2020 13:25

I caveat by saying I don't know if he will or not!!!

Given the current situation, I think his paternity leave needs to wait

AIBU?

OP posts:
Tootletum · 29/04/2020 14:54

@Devlesko most of the toffs I know have a similar view of conventional monogamy. He has treated his ex wife quite badly though.

Kazzyhoward · 29/04/2020 14:56

He and the other ministers are only figure-heads anyway. The actual work of government is done by the advisors, civil servants, etc.

FliesandPies · 29/04/2020 14:57

And he managed to dodge yet another PM Q's - phew!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 29/04/2020 15:06

He needs to be there for his wife and child

She's not his wife.

His wife was the woman with cancer that he cheated on.

And it's not like the woman (can't recall her name) is being left on her own in a tower block with no family or outside assistance.

aerosocks · 29/04/2020 15:10

He isn't.

... The End ...

SchadenfreudePersonified · 29/04/2020 15:12

If he was a woman should he forgo maternity leave? FFS, we (women) want and deserve equality and posts like this make my blood boil

When men gestate an infant for 40 weeks, endure the pain and exhaustion of labour, episiotomies, post-partum bleeding, hormonal tsunamis and postpartum depression - or even "baby blues" - then we can really talk about equality.

Until then you can't equate the two.

Charmatt · 29/04/2020 15:14

From what I can see, the baby is quite early, albeit healthy. I think he needs to be there for her as well as the baby. She probably needs him to support her.

He doesn't operate in a vacuum. Others have stood in for him and should continue to do so while he takes some leave. I think it also says something about the value of the leave and the family role he needs to play.

....oh, and I'd never vote him - I'm part of the vile left! Wink

Gawdsake2020 · 29/04/2020 15:30

YANBU.

BilboBercow · 29/04/2020 15:33

I'm not a fan of Boris, in fact I don't think he's a fit and proper person for the role of Prime Minister.
However, I've been trying to take as balanced approach as possible over coronavirus. I don't think the government have handled it very well but I think mistakes have been made by many governments. We're in unchartered territory here.
Normally i'd support him taking paternity leave but I think he's made the right decision to delay. I also think it's not particularly controversial to say Boris is a poor father generally. He has a 10 year old he's reportedly never taken a thing to do with and I really judge him for that. I hope he takes a more hands approach on with this child.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 29/04/2020 15:40

In any remotely normal circumstance i’d be 100% for paternity leave but we’re in the middle of the biggest crisis we’ve faced as a country in over a generation, and in the next couple of weeks there will need some pivotal decisions taken about the direction of the lockdown. However much those decisions are made collectively by cabinet, civil servants and advisors, they need to be seen to have the endorsement and authorisation of the PM. Postponing paternity leave is the only sensible thing.

MorganKitten · 29/04/2020 15:46

He’s probably exhausted

He could have followed his own advice on staying in, but went to visit family when shouldn’t... also I highly doubt he’s as hands on dad wise as everyone seems to think.

Also - they should have done the disability/to sick to work test on him, he’d have been back over a week ago judging by the way they test those with disabilities.

YouAndMeAndTheDevilMakesThree · 29/04/2020 16:17

I think those woman who think it's fine for him to not have his legally entitled 2 weeks should then not have their legally entitled maternity

Yep. The thing with having universal entitlements is that people you don't like are entitled to them too. Of course he should have his paternity leave.

merrymouse · 29/04/2020 16:32

Why does he need to take his paternity leave now? It's not as though he won't be at home or as though babies magically become easier after 2 weeks.

x2boys · 29/04/2020 16:36

He isn't taking it now @Merrymouse ,it's been announced on the news and stated several times on here now🙄

augustusglupe · 29/04/2020 16:39

YABVU
He’s taking a short paternity leave later in the year, it has just been reported.
Next...

RainMustFall · 29/04/2020 16:51

Winegumlover
*I knew when the baby was born, Mumsnet would be a cesspit.

Totally agree but what else are Labour bots going to do to earn their keep? It's not surprising since this is a left wing forum and they must be feeling rather down after being massacred at the election.

merrymouse · 29/04/2020 16:55

He isn't taking it now @Merrymouse ,it's been announced on the news and stated several times on here now🙄

I know - that was in reply to all the people insisting that he must take it now.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 29/04/2020 16:56

there is a crisis ongoing and we need a strong leader who is fully focussed on the pandemic and the government response.

Where can we get one of those?

I hear NZ has a pretty decent example of leadership.

YABU to say he shouldn't take leave; his partner has just had a baby and they will both need time to rest and recover and get used to the new changes. It's pretty unkind to say she should "suck it up" after having given birth less than 24 hours ago.

24 hours after giving birth to DS2 I was walking the dog and taking DS1 to school. 24 hours after giving birth to DS1 I was in hospital haemorrhaging. No two women labour identically so it's hardly fair to judge anyone else's labour by our own.

Amanduh · 29/04/2020 17:01

Ahh what a lovely, spirited mumsnet thread.
With a knowledge of a man’s personal relationships from what the red tops have told them.
Lovely.

HopeClearwater · 29/04/2020 17:02

I think those woman who think it's fine for him to not have his legally entitled 2 weeks should then not have their legally entitled maternity

This must be the biggest pile of rubbish I’ve ever seen on MN!

Lostvoiced · 29/04/2020 17:03

He should take all the leave.
In fact he should leave so much he stops being PM.

FliesandPies · 29/04/2020 17:04

Ahh what a lovely, spirited mumsnet thread

I'm glad for the MN fiestiness, I would be really disappointed if everyone felt the need to fawn over Bozo because he's fathered another child.

littleblackdress04 · 29/04/2020 17:20

He’s a fucking lazy arse of a prime minister that just wanted the job but doesn’t want to do the work quite frankly. He should resign and let someone competent do the job

Catsingangs · 29/04/2020 17:26

It's not surprising since this is a left wing forum and they must be feeling rather down after being massacred at the election.

I'm feeling rather pleased that this whole shit show is owned 100% by the Tories.
Of course they will try to deflect - oh it's over paid NHS procurement managers, oh we're following the scientists, oh but Labour etc etc
But it all comes back to the Tories. You won. Get over it Grin

ASandwichNamedKevin · 29/04/2020 17:34

@merrymouse It's not as though he won't be at home or as though babies magically become easier after 2 weeks.

I know the PM is postponing his paternity leave but to answer that point:
One would hope that generally the mother would start to feel a bit better after 2 weeks though, and be less physically debilitated if she had a difficult birth or c-section. Heck even after an 'easy' birth a woman can stil be exhausted.

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