Half of Brits admit to having a favourite parent, according to new research. 

Forget having a favourite child – half of Brits confess they have a favourite parent.

While most parents will say they love all of their children equally, you always know there’s that one kid in the family who is a secret favourite.

But when it comes to loving your parents equally, it turns out many of us might sway a bit more to one side than the other.

New research has found that half of Brits say that they have a favourite parent.

Read more: Mum sparks debate by admitting she has a favourite child

Four in ten adults say they get on better with their mum, while one in seven prefer dad’s company. Results also show that children are initially closest to their mum, but that 35 per cent later swap their allegiance to their dad with him confirming his spot as firm favourite by the age of 13.

But the poll of 2,000 adults found one third then switch sides again, becoming closer to mum once again from the age of 20, as they start to navigate into their adult lives. It also emerged that 21 per cent of men would describe themselves as a ‘mummy’s boy’ while 22 per of women believe they are a ‘daddy’s girl’.

‘It’s often assumed that children are always closest to their mum, but this simply isn’t the case,’ said Parenting expert Siobhan Freegard from ChannelMum.com, who commissioned the research.

‘As fathers become more hands-on, there are plenty of children and adults who value the bond with dad just as much – and in some cases even more than their relationship with their mum.’

The study also found that different life events can also have an effect on relationships between parents and their offspring, with having a baby more likely to bring them closer to their mum than dad. Grown-up children also turn to mum over dad when they are moving house, get their first job or get married.

But people feel closer to dad when they learn to drive and are more likely to share a common interest with them as they get older than they are with their mum. Sons and daughters also feel closer to dad after being taught a new craft or skill by them.

Might be time to get the kids together and take a vote…