Launching a parliamentary campaign for Men and Boys

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

THURSDAY 29^th JANUARY 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Last night, Alistair Strathern, the MP for Hitchin launched a new parliamentary group to focus on the challenges facing men and boys across the country.

The Labour Group for Men and Boys aims to bring together MPs and civil society groups working on a whole host of issues from men’s mental health to paternity leave. Supporting the launch were a wide range of groups from Movember, the men’s health charity, to Equimondo who screened a sneak peak of their forthcoming BBC documentary on life growing up as a young man in Britain today.

The group aims to drive more political focus on challenges facing men and boys in Britain that are all too often overlooked by contemporary politics. With men living on average 4 years less than women, and young men more likely to fall behind at every stage in education, the group believes there is an urgent need to tackle issues affecting men and boys head on.

As a former teacher, Mr Strathern has spoken up on the need for greater focus on some of the specific challenges facing young men. He recently joined forces with the Lost Boy’s Taskforce to successfully push the Government to commit to invest in a network of trusted adults for 1000s more men across the country, citing his own experience of the importance of positive male role models.

The launch was addressed by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who has been tasked with organising a National Summit on Boys & Men by the Prime Minister.

Alistair Strathern MP said:

“Labour rightly has a proud history of championing vital equalities causes, but we have to be honest about the reality that we haven't always been confident enough in taking on the challenges facing men and boys directly too.

“This has left space for toxic voices who promote a narrow, dominance-based idea of manhood and often blame women for the challenges men may face in their lives.

“As a former teacher, I've seen the consequences of this failure first-hand and am determined we put that right.

“We’ve launched the Labour Group for Men and Boys to ensure we can lead the way in supporting men and boys in Britain today, not as a zero-sum choice against women, but as an essential part of achieving equality, opportunity, and dignity for all.”

Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy MP said,

“I’m grateful to Alistair and the wider team supporting the Labour Group for Men and Boys, for creating a space where the challenges facing men and boys are treated with the seriousness they demand.

“This Labour government is thinking seriously about young men and masculinity. I know the discussions of this group will help shape national policy, inform our upcoming summit, and send a vital message that every man and boy deserves support and compassion.”

Ahead of its launch, Strathern and the LMB have already supported a push on paternity leave, organised a moving debate for International Men’s Day where members shared personal stories on why this issue matters to them, and championed the launch of the UK’s first men’s health strategy with a dozen MPs doing 4.5km walk and talks with men’s health groups in their constituencies to get a conversation going around men’s mental health.

You can see attached an image from the launch.