Dominic Raab put family-friendly policies at the heart of his leadership bid yesterday as the candidates to succeed Theresa May ushered their wives and children into the spotlight. The former Brexit secretary set out his stall with a pledge for all fathers to have the right to two weeks’ paternity leave at 90 per cent of full pay. Mr Raab also suggested a change in the law to ensure new or expectant mothers cannot be made redundant during pregnancy or maternity leave. This comes alongside a commitment to take 1p off the basic rate of income tax. Maria Miller, the Conservative former cabinet minister who is chairwoman of the women and equalities select committee, said the moves gave her confidence to lend Mr Raab her
Potential Conservative Party leaders have been promoting themselves, along with their wives and families, as contenders jostle for Prime Minister Theresa May’s position, which is expected to be vacant soon. Former International Development Secretary Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Brexit Secretary Rory Stewart are in the running. All have stressed their family commitments in what political analysts say is a bid to differentiate themselves from perceptions of the complex personal life of another potential leadership candidate, Boris Johnson. To accompany his leadership bid, Raab is also pushing policies including paternity rights and a promise to cut income tax.