UK Politics Live: Kemi Badenoch Affirms Support for Maternity Pay Amid Criticism from Tory Rivals At the Conservative Party conference, Kemi Badenoch has reiterated her belief in the importance of maternity pay, despite facing backlash for suggesting that the current maternity leave pay might be overly generous. Her comments have sparked a debate among her Tory colleagues, who have seized on her remarks as excessive. Badenoch's stance highlights the ongoing discussions within the party regarding welfare policies and their implications for working families.