Reform vows to be most ‘pro-mother’ party with new discrimination protections

The party said it would introduce a “Women’s and Motherhood Protection Act” if it came to power.

Suella Braverman, Reform’s education spokeswoman, said: “As the first cabinet minister in British history to take maternity leave, and as a working mother of two children, I understand the challenges women face when balancing a career and family life. No woman should ever feel that becoming a mother will hold her back or leave her with fewer opportunities.

“That is why a Reform UK Government will introduce the Women's and Motherhood Protection Act, bringing together existing protections in a single act of Parliament and extending the time limit for pregnancy and maternity discrimination and unfair dismissal claims to 12 months. Equal pay, maternity rights and protections from discrimination will remain firmly protected, alongside new safeguards for pregnant women and new mums.

“Motherhood should be celebrated, not penalised. I want Britain to be the best country in the world in which to become a mother, where women can build a successful career and raise a family. A Reform UK government will be the most pro-woman, pro-mother and pro-family government in British history."

The legislation would bring together existing protections on subjects such as equal pay, discrimination and maternity leave.

It would also extend the time limit for women to lodge pregnancy and maternity discrimination claims with the employment tribunal to 12 months.

Women currently have three months to lodge a discrimination claim, which is due to increase to six months in October this year.

Reform said the current limit is “unfair, unrealistic and completely out of touch with the realities of family life”, while the six-month limit was “not enough”.

The party also promised to introduce “stronger protections” against dismissal during pregnancy, more redundancy protections for new mothers, breastfeeding rights and miscarriage and still-birth rights.

Ms Braverman and her party have previously pledged to scrap the Equality Act, which contains protections against discrimination against women, including on maternity grounds.

But Reform said protections for women would remain “firmly protected” by its proposed legislation.

Voters in Makerfield will go to the polls on Thursday to choose their next MP.

The by-election candidates are: Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Andy Burnham (Labour and Co-operative Party), Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party), John Dyer (independent), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Paul Gould (independent), Howling Laud Hope (Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Rob Kenyon (Reform UK), Robert Pownall (independent), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Sarah Wakefield (Green Party), Peter Ward (Rejoin EU Bring in PR) and Michael Winstanley (Conservative).