Kemi Badenoch, a contender in the Conservative Party leadership race, sparked a heated debate at the Tory conference after suggesting that maternity pay may have “gone too far.” In an interview with Times Radio, Badenoch criticized the extent of business regulations, including statutory maternity pay, stating, “We’re taking from one group of people and giving to another… This, in my view, is excessive.”
Although Badenoch later clarified that she does not believe maternity pay needs to be changed, insisting her comments were misrepresented, her rivals quickly seized upon the opportunity. Fellow candidate Robert Jenrick voiced his disagreement, emphasizing the importance of supporting parents and working mothers. He highlighted that the UK’s maternity pay is among the lowest in the OECD, arguing that the Conservative Party should be on the side of parents.
Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly, also competing for the leadership position, shared similar sentiments, underlining the value of maternity and paternity support in the workplace. Tugendhat reflected on his own experiences with paternity care, while Cleverly pointed to the high cost of childcare as a more pressing issue for working mothers.
Badenoch’s allies, including shadow culture minister Julia Lopez, rushed to her defense, dismissing the row as a “confected maternity pile-on” and praising her dedication to supporting women in the workplace. Despite the clarifications, Badenoch’s remarks have dominated discussions at the conference, with her direct, non-politician style drawing both praise and criticism.
As the race to replace Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intensifies, Badenoch’s comments on maternity pay have injected fresh tension into the leadership battle, forcing contenders to take positions on an issue critical to many voters.