What Sparked Outrage Over Kemi Badenoch's Comments on Maternity Pay?
At the Conservative Party conference, a furious debate broke out when candidate Kemi Badenoch said maternity pay had “gone too far.” Her comments have dominated conversations on the event’s first day, attracting strong condemnation from her opponents.
Later, the shadow housing secretary Badenoch changed her position, saying she did not think maternity pay “needs changing at all.” She argued that her remarks—which concentrated on her goal to reduce corporate rules—were misinterpreted.
How Did Rival Candidates React to the Controversy?
Badenoch’s comments offered her competitors in leadership a juicy target for attack. “We’ve had a brilliant day, and we’ve barely had to say a word!” one member of a rival camp said.
Reducing government intervention in business is a central topic of Badenoch’s Tory leadership candidacy; she said during an interview with Times Radio, “Maternity pay varies, depending on who you work for—but statutory maternity pay is a function of tax; tax comes from people who are working,” she said when asked whether she believed maternity pay was at the proper level. From one set of individuals, we are distributing to another. This is overkill, in my opinion. Companies are shutting; they are not beginning in the UK as they claim the weight of regulations is too great.”
Pressing if her remarks suggested that “maternity pay is excessive,” Badenoch said, “I think it’s gone too far—too far the other way in general business regulation.” She also said, “The exact amount of maternity pay, in my view, is neither here nor there.”
What is the Current Understanding of Maternity Pay?
Starting at 90% of average weekly wages for six weeks, statutory maternity pay declines to the lowest of £184.03 or 90% of the mother’s typical income for the next thirty-three weeks.
Badenoch is well-known for her honesty; she usually presents herself as someone ready to tackle problems others avoid. She lately made news for saying that not every culture is equally valid. She has always emphasized her campaign’s general values instead of particular policy pledges, trying to portray the width and scale of government while under constant criticism concerning maternity pay.
How Did Badenoch Clarify Her Position After the Interview?
Badenoch cleared her stance on social media following the interview. “Contrary to what some have said, I clearly said the burden of regulation on businesses had gone too far,” she remarked on X. “Of course, I believe in maternity pay!” Later, she strengthened her position in an article, saying, “Of course, maternity pay isn’t extravagant… No three-kid mother believes that
What Were the Responses from Leadership Rivals?
During a Conservative Party fringe event, another Tory leadership contender, Robert Jenrick, quickly disagreed with Badenoch’s remarks. “I am a father of three young daughters—I want to see them get the support they need when they enter the workplace,” he said. “Among the lowest in the OECD, our maternity pay is The Conservative Party ought to be absolutely on the side of working mothers and parents striving to survive. Nobody claims that having children is simple; why would we choose to complicate matters?
Another applicant for party leadership, Tom Tugendhat, underlined the need for maternity and paternal care. “One of the things I missed out on years ago is we lacked the same rights on paternity care; many of us fathers would have loved to spend more time with our kids.”
Fourth Tory leadership contender James Cleverly also disagreed with Badenoch. “For working women, childcare is too costly,” he said.
How Are Badenoch's Supporters Responding to the Backlash?
Friends of Badenoch have rallied to her rescue, trying to defuse the matter. Shadow culture minister Julia Lopez, supporting Badenoch in the leadership contest, described the debate as a “confected maternity pile-on.” She said, “Nobody in our party right now knows more about the difficulty of balancing parenting with career. Kemi has supported women in rhetoric and reality—including maternity pay and improved childcare—but we still have difficulties.”
Her supporters see the reaction as a positive sign of her appeal; one says, “She doesn’t speak like a politician.” Her comments, however, clearly suggested—intentionally or not—that maternity pay had gone too far and were, at best, vague.
