UK politics live: Kemi Badenoch insists she believes in maternity pay as Tory rivals jump on ‘excessive’ claim

Conservative leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has said she believes in maternity pay after appearing to suggest it was “excessive” earlier on Sunday.

In an interview with Times Radio presenter Kate McCann, the MP described statutory maternity pay as “a function of tax”, adding: “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.”

In a post on X hours later, alongside a clip of the interview, she claimed she was referring to the burden of regulation on businesses.

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!

“Watch the clip for the truth. Back to conference…”

Robert Jenrick has come under fire after accepting a £75,000 donation from The Spott Fitness, a company that received money from a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

The money, split into three £25,000 instalments in July, raised questions about the ultimate source of the funds.

As first revealed by Tortoise Media, The Spott Fitness reportedly received a loan from a BVI-based firm, sparking concerns over transparency and the influence of offshore money in UK politics.

Despite the criticism, the Tory leadership hopeful defended the contribution, insisting the donation was “perfectly legal and valid”.

Appearing on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Jenrick downplayed the controversy, adding: “The Spott Fitness, as I understand it, is a fitness company that operates in the UK.”

Transparency International UK has welcomed the government’s proposal to change the rules on how ministers have to declare hospitality they have received.

It comes after the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden announced that a so-called “Tory loophole” where ministers did not have to declare tickets for events while all other MPs did will be shut down.

Rose Whiffen, senior research officer at the campaign group, said: “We welcome this move to end the two tier system that has meant ministers, those closest to power, are able to provide less information on their hospitality and provide it less frequently than their backbench colleagues.

“Additionally to show his commitment to improving trust, the prime minister should issue his ministerial code with promised changes to strengthen the independent adviser’s role as well as the Nolan principles featuring front and centre in the foreword.”

The Conservative Party is grappling with widespread public disillusionment, a recent YouGov poll has revealed.

According to the survey, the majority of every key social and political group now holds a negative opinion of the Tories.

Even traditionally strong bases of support are turning away, with 55 per cent of over 65s and 56 per cent of Leave voters expressing dissatisfaction with the party.

Among potential voters, the outlook is equally bleak. Just 26 per cent of 2024 Reform UK voters, only 11 per cent of Liberal Democrats and a mere four per cent of Labour supporters view the Tories in a positive light.

Joeli Brearley, founder of campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, said Kemi Badenoch’s comments about statutory maternity pay were “yet another example of dog-whistle politics”.

She said: “It is absolute nonsense to suggest that businesses are closing because of statutory maternity pay.

“Statutory maternity pay is not a burden to business as they recoup the cost from HMRC. Small business recoup 100 per cent of the cost plus three per cent in small employer’s relief.

“Statutory maternity pay is absolutely vital. Most families need two incomes to survive, and so without SMP, women would be forced to return to work almost immediately after giving birth.

“Maternity leave has been proven to substantially decrease infant mortality, whilst improving the mental and physical health of women.

“Conservatives are meant to be the party of family – this statement from Badenoch is yet another example of dog-whistle politics that would actively damage families, businesses and society as a whole.”

When the Conservative Party gathered in Manchester last autumn for Rishi Sunak’s last conference as prime minister, the streets were lined with demonstrators protesting the event,our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports from the Tory conference.

Fast-forward a year, and the decline in relevance of the Tories is all too evident.

Walking from a nearby hotel to the party conference venue, there was not a demonstrator to be seen.

It shows that, while the public may still be angry with the party, now that it is no longer in government they simply don’t care.

And, in stark contrast with Labour’s jam-packed gathering last week in Liverpool, there are still rooms available in hotels around the venue.

One of Rishi Sunak’s most influential critics has admitted that had the party and country listened to the then prime minister it could have avoided calamitous defeat at the general election.

Lord Ben Houchen, the Mayor of Teesside and only leading Tory left in power, insists his party “absolutely can win in five years” but warns Conservatives should not try to become a version of Reform to do it.

Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:

Robert Jenrick said the UK has a “fair system of maternity pay” when it was put to him that the country has one of the lowest rates in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

Asked for his views on maternity pay on Times Radio, he said: “Well, we have a fair system of maternity pay.

“Of course, there are always ways in which we could seek to improve, but it’s a balance, isn’t it?

“Because we’ve got to ensure that working mums and families have the support they need, but also that we can have the right labour laws in this country so that we maintain one of our great strengths as a country, which is a flexible labour market, which has enabled us to have record levels of employment, even in bad times.”

His comments come after Kemi Badenoch said people need to have “more personal responsibility” as she called maternity pay “excessive”