The SNP has challenged new Scottish Tory Leader Russell Findlay to call out Kemi Badenoch’s “backwards and harmful” comments on UK Maternity Pay, saying the “already meagre support for expectant mothers” must not be a casualty of Tory ignorance.
Speaking to Times Radio on Sunday, the frontrunner in the Conservative Party leadership contest said the burden placed on businesses to support mothers on maternity leave was “excessive” and called for people to exercise more “personal responsibility.”
In the UK, statutory maternity pay is no higher than £172.48 a week after six weeks.
Although this is a reserved matter, the SNP has long called for an increase to paid maternity leave to one year, with support amounting to 100% of average weekly earnings for the first 12 weeks.
The party also wants to see shared parental leave – currently 52 weeks – rise to 64 weeks.
Commenting, SNP MSP Evelyn Tweed said:
“These comments from the Tory Leadership frontrunner are deeply concerning and reveal incredible ignorance in the upper echelons of Russell Findlay’s party.
“It is therefore astonishing that he has yet to call them out.
“It’s widely acknowledged that maternity pay across the UK is far from adequate, and instead of opening the doors to cutting it further leaders across the country should be focusing on how it can be improved.
“That’s exactly what the SNP is doing, having argued for improvements to maternity and paternity pay so that families are better supported and providing the best childcare offer in the UK.
“Mr Findlay should take the opportunity to clarify the Scottish Conservatives’ stance on these comments and call them out for what they are – ignorant and harmful – or will he too betray families across Scotland?”
