Kemi Badenoch has said people are “scared to have families” due to the cost amid an ongoing row about her comments on maternity pay. On Sunday, the Tory leadership contender had said the government was doing “too much” on statutory maternity pay, before backtracking on the remarks.

Tory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch suggested her critics had attacked her by using a soundbite after she said maternity pay was 'excessive' in a radio interview

Tory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch has suggested maternity pay has "gone too far" and the government needed to interfere less in people's lives. Speaking to Times Radio, Badenoch said statutory maternity pay, set up to support mothers for 39 weeks after having a baby, is a "function of tax" which she called "excessive".

Comments suggesting maternity pay has "gone too far" have been seized on by leadership opponents as Tory conference gets under way.

There was a time when there wasn’t any maternity pay and people were having more babies’. Kemi Badenoch remains the clear favourite amongst Tory members to be next leader, according to the latest survey of members from the ConservativeHome website.

The opposition chief whip in the House of Commons has weighed in on the controversial comments about maternity pay at the Conservative conference. Kemi Badenoch had said statutory maternity pay, set up to support mothers for 39 weeks after having a baby,