During an interview with Times Radio, Badenoch was asked if she thought maternity pay was at the right level.
She said: “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.
“We’re taking from one group of people and giving to another. This, in my view, is excessive.
“Businesses are closing, businesses are not starting in the UK, because they say that the burden of regulation is too high.”
When asked if her comments meant “maternity pay is excessive”, Badenoch said: “I think it’s gone too far – too far the other way in terms of general business regulation.”
Badenoch was then told that the current level of maternity pay was necessary for people who couldn’t afford to have a baby without it.
She replied: “We need to have more personal responsibility. There was a time when there wasn’t any maternity pay and people were having more babies.”
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks. Women taking maternity pay get 90% of their average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first six weeks, then £184.03 or 90% of their average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks. SMP is paid in the same way as wages, with tax and National Insurance deducted.
Badenoch later clarified her remarks, saying she does “believe in maternity pay”.
Posting on X, she said: “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!”
The founder of campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed Joeli Brearley said on LBC Radio that Badenoch’s comments were “dangerous”.
