Parliament is now in recess, but one of the final speeches I gave on behalf of the Opposition was about fathers and positive male role models. Preparing for the debate made me reflect on my own dad, Mike, and how fortunate I have been to have him there throughout my life and what it meant to me.

My dad, Mike, and I have a Christmas Eve tradition which began when I was four. We go out to buy presents for my mum, he pays for them and I wrap them when we get home. I am now 45 and, despite being old enough to know better, I have never managed to renegotiate my part of the deal. The shopping now tends to include a bite to eat and a drink, but otherwise very little has changed.

It is hardly an extraordinary story, and I suspect that is why it means so much to me. When we look back, it is often the lift home, the typical dad joke, the offer of help or the tradition which nobody would dream of changing that we remember most clearly.

Being a good father does not require grand gestures. Much of it is about making time and being someone your child can rely on. It is encouraging that working dads spent 18% more time caring for their children in 2022 than in 2014–15, although this has not always been matched by the way fathers are treated. Dads can still feel like the additional parent at appointments or when dealing with services for their children.

When relationships break down, some fathers find it particularly difficult to remain closely involved. Every family is different and a child’s safety must always come first, but where a father is loving, willing and able to be there, we should want to preserve that relationship. Recognising this takes nothing away from the many mothers doing an incredible job, including those raising children alone.

Children can also find positive male role models in a grandfather, uncle, older brother, teacher or volunteer. Across South West Devon, men give their time to sports teams, Scouts and local organisations, sometimes without appreciating how much the children involved look up to them. My brother is deputy headteacher in a primary school, and I am proud of the part he plays in his pupils’ lives. However, only 14% of nursery and primary school teachers in England are men, meaning some children may encounter very few positive male figures during those early years.

We spend a lot of time discussing the problems facing boys and young men, but part of the answer is already around us. Where it is safe and in the child’s best interests, we should support loving fathers to remain involved, ensure family services include dads as well as mums, and encourage more men into teaching, coaching and youth work.

Having my dad there has made a real difference to me, just as fathers and other positive male role models are making a difference across South West Devon. Their contribution should not be overlooked...even if, in my case, it means I will almost certainly be wrapping my mum’s presents again on Christmas Eve