A Christian maternity expert has told Premier that maternity pay is “essential” for God’s picture of the family unit.

Rachel Waddilove, founder of Rachel’s Babies motherhood consultancy – which counts Gwenyth Paltrow as a client – has reacted to Tory MP Kemi Badenoch’s comments that maternity pay is “excessive”.

“God in his wonderful wisdom put us in families. God’s plan is for families to be together and to love and care for little ones,” said Rachel.

Badenoch, who is hoping to become her party's next leader, caused a stir over the weekend, telling Times Radio that statutory maternity pay "is a function of tax" and that "tax comes from people who are working". 

"We’re taking from one group of people and giving to another," Badenoch continued. "This, in my view, is excessive.”

Badenoch has since clarified the comment, saying she does believe in maternity pay, but finds the financial burden of it overwhelming for small businesses.

Rachel Waddilove said: “Mums need to have maternity pay, and good maternity pay to be able to be at home with their babies. That is so, so important, that they are able to have time with their babies.

“It is hard for small businesses, but mums need support to be able to stay at home and enjoy motherhood, and not be worrying about finances.”

She told Premier that the comments highlight a declining view on the importance of family life: “Really what governments want to do is to get women back to work… Often, once a mum has had a baby, the last thing she wants is to go back to work. There is massive pressure for women.

 “Governments need to be looking at how they can help mothers be at home with their babies until such a time when they want to go back to work. God’s plan is for there to be a family unit.”