The Tory leadership contender insists that she believes paying new mothers is "quite important" after rivals attacked her comments.
But she said the row was similar to the furore that hit Britain's first woman prime minister when she claimed "there is no such thing as society".
Quizzed yesterday on the main stage at the party's Birmingham conference, she said: "Maternity pay is quite important. And this was actually a long discussion we were having about the role of the state in deciding what businesses should do.
"But let's take a step back. Who remembers the phrase, There is no such thing as society'? "Everybody remembers. Mrs Thatcher gave an interview to Women's Own magazine where she was asked the question. She said, "There's no such thing as society.'
"She was talking about people wanting government handouts, but there are only individual people and families, and that very good explanation got cut down into a soundbite that was used to attack her."
Ms Badenoch added: "When you are making the argument for Conservative principles, your opponents are going to try to turn it into something else.
"We need to decide who's going to be leader of the party, not the left, not the Guardian, not the BBC just Conservatives."
Asked about having said that maternity pay was "excessive", she said: "I was answering a different question."
Millionaires
Bu hikaye Daily Express dergisinin October 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Daily Express dergisinin October 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
SCHAR IS SPOT ON AS TOON LACK FIZZ
Hosts beat dogged Dons a year after glamour night
Nurture health and wealth for best retirement
AS PEOPLE live longer pensioners now expect to be retired for 27 years on average which is good news but there's a catch, as their retirement sayings may not last as long as they do.
City rampage puts the Brat pack in the shade
RECORD FOR HAALAND AS McATEE BAGS FIRST
TFRE BELLBED Peet could be greatest coach ever at Warriors TFRED
WIGAN LEGEND OFFIAH HAILS MATTY
Mayhem for motorists
Lorry plunges 60ft from M6 viaduct during rainstorm
'We deliver fruit to school because when I was seven we could never afford it'
A NATIONAL Lottery retailer's experience of growing up in a single-parent family has made him determined to support the most vulnerable in his community.
Channel 4 spent £15,000 taking MPs who blocked privatisation to BAFTAs
CHANNEL 4 spent nearly £15,000 on hosting MPs at the BAFTA awards after they supported its fight against government privatisation plans.
High-flyers Wills and Becks hail £16m helicopters boost
DAVID Beckham played wingman to Prince William as a £15million target to replace London Air Ambulance's ageing helicopters was smashed.
Number of over-90s hits record high
THE number of people aged 90 and older has reached a record high, estimates for England and Wales show.
Hunt for acid attacker as girl, 14, hit outside school
A GIRL of 14 has suffered \"lifechanging\" injuries after being doused with acid by an e-scooter attacker.