'We'll reduce time off for new parents'

Millions of parents could lose time off when they have children under shock Tory plans to woo the business vote.

Women working in small firms could lose the recent increase of paid maternity leave from 18 to 26 weeks.

The fortnight's paternity leave for new fathers which Labour introduced is also on a hit list of "red tape burdens" on firms with 20 or fewer employees being unveiled today by shadow trade and industry secretary Tim Yeo.

Ahead of his keynote speech, he said: "If you run a small firm and lose someone important for six months it is a hell of a problem."

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "It positions the Conservatives on the side of bad bosses."