Statutory maternity pay starts at 90% of average weekly earnings for six weeks – then falls to the lowest of either £184.03 or 90% of the mother’s average salary for 33 weeks.
In 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.”
She added that “the exact amount of maternity pay in my view is neither here nor there.”
“We need to make sure that we are creating an environment where people can work and people can have more freedom to make their individual decisions.
“It has got to a point where government has become about technocratic micro policy management. That is not what is going to get this country growing.”
Later, writing on X, external, Badenoch posted: “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!”
According to Lord Michael Ashcroft’s biography of Badenoch, she resigned instead of taking maternity leave as head of digital operations at the Spectator.
