Denemek ALTIN - Özgür

Maternity pay row like furore over Thatcher's 'society' soundbite

Daily Express

|

October 01, 2024

KEMI Badenoch has compared herself to Margaret Thatcher following a backlash after she suggested maternity pay was "excessive".

- Sam Lister

Maternity pay row like furore over Thatcher's 'society' soundbite

The Tory leadership contender insists that she believes paying new mothers is "quite important" after rivals attacked her comments.

But she said the row was similar to the furore that hit Britain's first woman prime minister when she claimed "there is no such thing as society".

Quizzed yesterday on the main stage at the party's Birmingham conference, she said: "Maternity pay is quite important. And this was actually a long discussion we were having about the role of the state in deciding what businesses should do.

"But let's take a step back. Who remembers the phrase, There is no such thing as society'? "Everybody remembers. Mrs Thatcher gave an interview to Women's Own magazine where she was asked the question. She said, "There's no such thing as society.'

"She was talking about people wanting government handouts, but there are only individual people and families, and that very good explanation got cut down into a soundbite that was used to attack her."

Ms Badenoch added: "When you are making the argument for Conservative principles, your opponents are going to try to turn it into something else.

"We need to decide who's going to be leader of the party, not the left, not the Guardian, not the BBC just Conservatives."

Asked about having said that maternity pay was "excessive", she said: "I was answering a different question."

Millionaires

Daily Express'den DAHA FAZLA HİKAYE

Daily Express

Daily Express

Cancer mum's family win fight with boyfriend over forged will

THE family of a tragic mum have won a £700,000 court fight with her “abusive and toxic” boyfriend after he used a forged will and fake wedding to grab her fortune.

time to read

2 mins

February 18, 2026

Daily Express

'MILLIONS ARE CRYING OUT FOR REWARD OF HARD WORK'

Labour's job taxes branded 'silent killer of aspiration' as unemployment hits 5.2%

time to read

4 mins

February 18, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

'Pete gave me some advice, Stop trying to make it rhyme'

Opera singer beat writer's block thanks to Who star Townshend

time to read

3 mins

February 18, 2026

Daily Express

'We will be as careful with your money as you are' says Reform

A REFORM UK government would “end the chaos and restore stability” to the nation, Robert Jenrick will pledge today in his mission to replace Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

time to read

4 mins

February 18, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

Camilla's Zantastic link to design icon

THE Queen revealed her sister's wedding dress was made by Zandra Rhodes as she visited an exhibition about the fashion designer.

time to read

1 min

February 18, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

Podcast producer sounds a winner

In the booming world of podcasting, producer Humanise Live (HL) is making waves creating new opportunities for charities, ethical enterprises and associations.

time to read

2 mins

February 18, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

Heir to King who paved way for Barack Obama

JESSE Jackson - the street-marching, pulpit-pounding preacher electrified a nation with his call for a defiant \"rainbow coalition\" of America's poor and excluded.

time to read

4 mins

February 18, 2026

Daily Express

Zoe embraces fear to get in on sister act

ZOE ATKIN is ready to face her fears to unlock Olympic gold.

time to read

1 min

February 18, 2026

Daily Express

When the heat is on, Sam always delivers

SAM CURRAN is once again proving England's man for the big moment at the T20 World Cup.

time to read

2 mins

February 18, 2026

Daily Express

Daily Express

Pulling children's teeth is a 'badge of dishonour' for UK

\"HORRIFIC\" numbers of children are having their teeth pulled out in hospital for preventable decay, dentists have revealed.

time to read

1 mins

February 18, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size