The new Tory welfare chief has been rebuked by Downing Street over his call for women's maternity rights to be slashed.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride faced a humiliating slapdown after the Mirror revealed he had complained rules on parental leave were too “onerous”.
The senior Tory previously demanded the government “seriously consider” how the rights of parents to take time off after having a baby could be reversed.
Asked whether Rishi Sunak agreed with Mr Stride that maternity rights should be slashed, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “No.”
He added: “Obviously, the UK has one of the most generous maternity leave entitlements in the world to support working parents.”
In the Commons, Mr Stride faced a grilling from angry MPs over his remarks, but he bizarrely claimed he had never made them.
Labour ’s Mike Amesbury asked if he “still agrees with his statement actually that cutting maternity rights will be good for business?”
Mr Stride replied: "Given that I never made that statement, then I don't agree."
Writing on the Conservative Home website in September 2012, Mr Stride argued the right of women to take up to a year’s maternity leave when they have a baby can have a “profound” impact, particularly on small businesses.
“There have… been some notable examples of countries rowing back in this area in recent years,” he added.
“If we want to provide a massive shot in the arm for British business and entrepreneurship I would hope that we could seriously consider following their example with at least a close look at relaxations in protected-employment legislation for smaller businesses.”
As Work and Pensions Secretary, Mr Stride is currently involved in discussions on whether the government sticks to its promises to increase both benefits and the state pension in line with inflation. A decision is expected to be announced in the Autumn Statement next month.
In the Commons, Mr Stride did not rule out means testing some benefits including personal independence payments, carers allowance, attendance allowance, and disability living allowance for children.
