New Tory welfare chief wanted maternity rights slashed for mothers to boost business

Exclusive:

Mel Stride, who was appointed Work and Pensions Secretary last week, has complained that rules on leave for new mothers and new fathers were too "expensive"

Tory Mel Stride has already mobilized against maternity rights (

Image: UK PARLIAMENT/AFP via Getty Imag)

The new Tory welfare chief has called for a reduction in maternity rights to 'provide a huge boost to UK businesses', it can be revealed.

Mel Stride, who was appointed Work and Pensions Secretary last week, complained that the furlough rules for new mothers and new fathers were too 'onerous'.

The Cabinet Minister has asked the government to 'seriously consider' how parents' rights to take leave after having a baby could be reversed.

Labour's Jonathan Ashworth said last night the revelation showed why 'working people just can't trust the Tories'.

Writing on the conservative Home website in September 2012, Mr Stride challenged the way workers "can demand that their employer give them up to 52 weeks of statutory maternity leave and keep their jobs open for their potential return.”

"These rights accompany every pregnancy and so it is not uncommon for an employee to take several work breaks relatively close together and for up to a year each time," the senior curator said.

Mr. Stride (third from left) was appointed to Rishi Sunak's first cabinet last week (

Picture:

PENNSYLVANIA)

"Under these circumstances, not only do employers struggle to fill jobs on a temporary basis for long periods of time, but they also often face considerable uncertainty as to the actual duration of the absence."

Mr. Stride warned that "the impact of these requirements on small businesses in particular can be profound", adding that maternity leave can also cause "resentment" among colleagues who need to intervene.

In the article, he admits that "the politics around this issue are tricky" with "global experience showing that changes in this area of ​​employment law tend to go in one direction only - towards greater great generosity towards the employees".

But he continued, "There have been some notable examples of countries that have come back into this area over the course of the rec...