Nick Clegg: Parents deserve childcare choice

The government has committed to introducing a year of shared leave for new parents by April 2015.

Under the changes, the existing 52 weeks of maternity leave, other than the first fortnight for a new mother's recovery, can be shared between the parents, but the Institute of Directors described the new rights as a "nightmare" for employers.

"The current rules just simply don't suit lots of modern families," Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said.

"I don't think it is for politicians to tell mums and dads what arrangements they agree both amongst themselves and with their own employers."