Local resident Kirsty got in touch with our office after she discovered that because she was self-employed, she was not entitled to the same adoption pay and leave that someone who worked for a company would be. After raising the question in Parliament, I hosted a specific debate on the issue – which got support from across the political spectrum.
I am now working on an amendment to the Government's Employment Rights Bill which would give self-employed people the same rights as those working for an employer.
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MP Lisa Smart has challenged the ministers in charge of the Parental Leave Review to tackle the unfair nature of adoption pay for self-employed parents ahead of their current 2027 deadline.
The Government needs to address the cliff edge of the Special Guardianship Support Fund, with adoptive parents looking after some of the country's most vulnerable children needing certainty. That's why I challenged the Minister in Parliament this week.
The need for Fair Adoption Pay has been championed again by Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart, who raised the cause in a recent House of Commons Debate.
MP Lisa Smart has written to major adoption charities from across the UK to get extra support for her campaign to deliver fairer adoption support for self-employed people.
Lisa Smart MP pushes for explicit support for self-employed adopters, who are currently ineligible for adoptions pay.
ITV news cover Lisa Smart MP's campaign for fair adoption pay.