Conservative Party leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch has come under fire after suggesting that statutory maternity pay in the UK has “gone too far” and that the government should reduce its interference in people’s lives.
Speaking to Times Radio, Badenoch labelled the current system, which supports mothers for 39 weeks after childbirth, as an “excessive” function of taxation.
In her comments, Badenoch said, “We need to have more personal responsibility—there was a time when there wasn’t any maternity pay, and people were having more babies.” She emphasised that the exact amount of maternity pay was not her central concern but framed her remarks within a broader argument about reducing regulatory burdens on businesses.
Badenoch’s comments sparked immediate backlash, leading her to clarify her stance. Posting on social media, she insisted that she was misrepresented, asserting, “Of course, maternity pay isn’t excessive… no mother of three kids thinks that.” She explained that her broader point was about reducing regulations that hamper businesses.
Statutory maternity pay in the UK starts at 90 percent of average weekly earnings for six weeks and then decreases to either £184.03 or 90 percent of the mother’s salary for an additional 33 weeks. Badenoch argued that this system is a significant burden on businesses, claiming that excessive regulation is stifling growth and entrepreneurship in the UK.
Fellow leadership candidate Robert Jenrick strongly disagreed with Badenoch’s position, stating, “Our maternity pay is among the lowest in the OECD. I think the Conservative Party should be firmly on the side of parents and working mums who are trying to get by.” Jenrick, a father of three, expressed concern over making life harder for parents, especially working mothers.
Tom Tugendhat, another Tory leadership contender, also distanced himself from Badenoch’s remarks, saying, “Maternity and paternity care are very important. I think many fathers, like myself, would have loved to spend more time with their children.” James Cleverly, the fourth leadership candidate, rejected the notion that statutory maternity pay was burdensome for businesses, pointing instead to the high costs of childcare.
The controversy surrounding Badenoch’s comments has also drawn criticism from advocacy groups. Joeli Brearley, founder of the campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, called Badenoch’s statement “absolute nonsense,” arguing that businesses are not harmed by statutory maternity pay because they can reclaim costs through HMRC. Brearley added, “Statutory maternity pay is vital for families who rely on dual incomes. Without it, women would be forced to return to work almost immediately after giving birth.”
As the Conservative Party leadership race continues, Badenoch’s remarks have fueled debate over the balance between supporting families and reducing regulatory burdens on businesses, with many questioning whether her approach aligns with the values of a party traditionally seen as supportive of families.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
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