Badenoch defended right to flexible working before she opposed it

Kemi Badenoch defended legislation introducing the right to flexible work in a conversation with the businessman James Dyson, despite being outspoken in her opposition to the measures during the Conservative leadership contest.

- Jessica Elgot

Minutes of a meeting during her time as business secretary last June, seen by the Guardian, show the pair discussed the Tory government's plans for flexible working laws, with Dyson raising concerns about the impact on his business.

Badenoch ordered a review of the impact of the flexible working bill, which gave workers the right to ask for flexible working. The bill itself had already passed and became law the following month.

The documents show that during the meeting Badenoch mounted a defence of the bill and told Dyson that flexible working "goes beyond working from home, such as the ability to work compressed hours". The bill "seeks to allow employees to request these from day one of employment not mandate companies into agreement", she said.