Ian Murray has become a father for the second time. The Scottish Secretary’s wife gave birth to a baby girl on Monday morning.
The Edinburgh South MP will now take two weeks paternity leave. Junior Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill will take over his duties. He already has a five-year-old daughter with his wife Mariam.
Murray said in a post on Twitter: “Welcome to the world baby Loïs. Born at 7:48am this morning at home at the bouncing weight of 3.5kg. An absolute bundle of joy. Mariam was absolutely amazing. My heart has completely melted. Three girls in the house now.”
The Record revealed last week that Murray would be the first cabinet secretary to take full paternity leave. Murray said his leave had been personally signed off by Keir Starmer because he is “enthusiastic” about balancing work as a government minister and family life.
Murray told the Record at the time: “I think I am the first Cabinet minister to take formal paternity leave for the whole two weeks. The Prime Minister has personally signed this off because he is enthusiastic about making sure that the balance between the heavy duties of government, being an MP, travelling and all of those issues. The burden of that falls heavily on family.
“He’s always talked about him trying to make sure that he cuts out a bit of his week on a Friday to be with family. The department has been hugely supportive. I’m looking forward to it. Because responsibility lies mostly on family when you do these jobs, it’s quite good to spend some time away from the place really.”
Junior minister McNeill will be assisted by parliamentary private secretary Mel Ward and Scottish whip Martin McCluskey in covering Murray.
Murray said that the only reason he would cut the leave short “is if there was some sort of national security issue to be dealt with.”
The right to two weeks paid paternity leave was introduced by the last Labour Government in 2003. Before that new fathers in the UK were not entitled to paid leave.
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