Kemi Badenoch, a contender for leadership of the Conservative party, has sparked a debate on maternity pay, stating that the allowance in the UK is “excessive”.
Badenoch has since backtracked: “of course I believe in maternity pay!” she posted on X. But former MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has also added to the conversation, suggesting that women should not be able to accrue paid holiday while on maternity leave.
My research focuses on the intersection of paid work and caring responsibilities. It’s worth examining what leave and pay parents in the UK are entitled to.
