KEMI Badenoch has been rounded on by her Tory leadership rivals after suggesting that maternity pay was “excessive”.
The leadership hopeful was blasted over her comments in a radio interview on Sunday, in a move some argued may tank her ambitions to take the reins from Rishi Sunak.
Asked about the level of maternity pay in the UK – which is among the lowest levels in the developed world – Badenoch said that regulations on businesses were “excessive”.
In a tweet she later claimed her words had been twisted but not before her leadership rivals rushed to reject her comments.
Tom Tugendhat said he wanted to see “strong maternity and paternity pay”, while Robert Jenrick (below) said he did not “agree with Kemi on this one”, The Telegraph reported.
James Cleverly refused to back her, telling the paper: “You need to ask Kemi about Kemi’s comment.”
A source from a rival camp said it was the former business secretary’s “Andrea Leadsom moment”, in reference to the former Cabinet minister who was widely seen to have derailed her own Tory leadership ambitions after an attack on Theresa May in the 2016 race over the future PM’s childless status.
Asked about the level of maternity pay in the UK on Times Radio on Sunday, Badenoch said: “Maternity pay varies depending on who you work for, but it is a function — where it’s statutory maternity pay — a function of tax.
"Tax comes from people who are working. We’re taking from one group of people and giving to another. This in my view is excessive.”
Pressed on whether she considered maternity pay “excessive”, Badenoch replied: “I think it’s gone too far the other way in terms of general business regulation.
"We need to allow businesses, especially small businesses, to make more of their own decisions. The exact amount of maternity pay in my view is neither here nor there.”
She later shared the clip of the interview on Twitter/X claiming her comments had been misinterpreted, saying: “Contrary to what some have said, I clearly said the burden of regulation on businesses had gone too far… of course I believe in maternity pay! Watch the clip for the truth.”
Contrary to what some have said, I clearly said the burden of regulation on businesses had gone too far… of course I believe in maternity pay! Watch the clip for the truth. Back to conference… pic.twitter.com/kGsOpMCSpu
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) September 29, 2024
But her rivals seized on the comments as the race to replace Sunak heats up. Sunak delivered a speech at Tory conference in Birmingham with a pea to “end the division, the backbiting and the squabbling”, adding: “Because when we turn on ourselves, we lose.”
A supporter of a rival camp told The Telegraph: “This feels like a Andrea Leadsom moment. Beating up on women is totally unnecessary and is always a terrible look. Why is she picking a fight with pregnant women?”
Jenrick said: “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.”
