BOLTON MP Tom Sackville is urging John Major to fight any move by Brussels to force Britain to give new dads three months off work.

Yesterday the European Commission published sweeping new proposals to give fathers as well as mums 12 weeks off without pay to care for the child.

British firms were confident they would escape the scheme under the UK's Opt Out from the Social Chapter.

But the Commission is seeking to impose the scheme on Britain through different health and safety proposals.

And British Trade Unions are determined to force multi-national companies like Ford to offer the same perk to British dads as they will be forced to on the Continent.

Today, Junior Home Office Minister Mr Sackville made clear his opposition to the plan and any attempt by the Brussels bureaucrats to manoeuvre its way round the Social Chapter Opt Out. The Bolton West MP said: "I will urge the Government to resist this. It is a ridiculous idea.

"It will impose extra burdens and costs on business, leading to the loss of jobs.

"It's just the sort of politically correct clap-trap we've come to expect from the second rate Bureaucrats in Brussels.

"I shall be urging my ministerial colleagues to fight this proposal tooth and nail."

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