Maternity pay has gone too far, says Kemi Badenoch

Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has expressed that maternity pay has become excessive and believes the government should minimize its involvement in individuals' lives.

In an interview with Times Radio, Badenoch discussed statutory maternity pay, which is designed to assist mothers for 39 weeks following childbirth. She described it as a "tax-related issue" and referred to it as "too much."

The shadow business secretary didn't specify what she considered to be the appropriate amount for maternity pay, but she did mention that the government ought to lighten regulatory requirements.

She mentioned, "We should take on more personal responsibility. There was a period when maternity pay didn't exist, yet people were still having larger families."

Badenoch later expressed that she definitely supports maternity pay.

Statutory maternity pay begins with 90% of your average weekly income for the first six weeks. After that, it drops to either £184.03 or 90% of what you typically earn, whichever amount is lower, for the following 33 weeks.

During an interview with Times Radio, Badenoch was questioned about whether she believed that maternity pay was set at an appropriate level.

She mentioned that maternity pay can differ based on your employer, but the standard maternity pay is linked to taxes, which are collected from those who are employed.

"We're transferring resources from one group to another, and to me, this seems extreme."

Companies are shutting down and new ones aren't being launched in the UK because many claim that the regulatory demands are overly burdensome.

She stated that, in her opinion, the specific amount of maternity pay is not really important.

"We must ensure that we're fostering a workplace where individuals have the freedom to make their own choices and work effectively."

The situation has reached a stage where the government is overly focused on detailed technical policies. However, this approach won't drive the country's growth.

Later, in a post on X, Badenoch stated, "Despite what some people may think, I clearly indicated that the regulations on businesses have become excessive... and yes, I absolutely support maternity pay!"

In his biography of Badenoch, Lord Michael Ashcroft reveals that she chose to resign rather than go on maternity leave from her position as the head of digital operations at the Spectator.

Another Conservative leadership contender, Robert Jenrick, stated that he sees things differently from Kemi on this issue.

During his speech at the Conservative party conference, Jenrick expressed, “As a father of three young daughters, I want to ensure they receive the support they need when they start their careers.”

"Our maternity pay ranks as one of the lowest in the OECD. I believe the Conservative Party ought to strongly support parents and working mothers who are striving to make ends meet."

"People often acknowledge that raising children is challenging, so why would we want to complicate things even more?"

In reaction to Badenoch's remarks, Tom Tugendhat stated, "I won't dictate how individuals should manage their lives or balance various caregiving duties."

Tugendhat, who is campaigning to become the party's next leader, expressed, "I believe that support for new mothers and fathers is essential."

"One thing I regret from years past is that we didn't enjoy the same rights when it came to paternity leave. I believe many fathers, including myself, would have appreciated the opportunity to spend more time with our children."

The fourth candidate for the Tory leadership, James Cleverly, dismissed Badenoch's assertions as well.

He mentioned that for mothers who work, the expense of childcare is prohibitively high.

Government interference was what drove up the costs.

"Let's reduce the cost of childcare so that mothers who wish to return to work can do so without financial strain."

Joeli Brearley, the founder of the campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, dismissed the idea that companies are shutting down due to statutory maternity pay as "complete nonsense." She pointed out that businesses have the option to recover those costs from HMRC.

Statutory maternity pay (SMP) is incredibly important. Many families rely on two incomes to make ends meet, so without SMP, women would have to go back to work soon after having a baby.

"Conservatives are supposed to stand for family values, but Badenoch's remarks represent another instance of coded political messaging that could harm families, businesses, and society at large," she continued.