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.

Since Badenoch made her comments, she’s now confirmed that she actually does "believe in maternity pay" and sees it as "a good thing". She claimed there was "some mischief being made on social media trying to misrepresent me" (despite her quotes being taken verbatim from the transcript).

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