MAKERFIELD — Reform UK has proposed a "women and motherhood protection act" that would supersede the 2010 Equality Act. The proposal would extend the time limit for pregnancy and maternity claims of unfair dismissal from three months to 12 months.

Reform UK stated that its government would prioritize women, mothers, and families. The party noted that the Equal Pay Act 1970 ensures women and men receive the same pay for the same work, and the Employment Rights Act 1996 ensures rights to parental leave and protection against unfair dismissal. Reform UK stated, "Women will retain the right to receive the same pay for the same work, while ensuring that equal pay law remains focused on genuine cases of pay discrimination rather than allowing courts and tribunals to determine the relative value of fundamentally different occupations." The party also said, "New mothers should be focused on their child, not paperwork and no woman should lose her legal rights because she spent the first months of motherhood being a mum."

General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Paul Nowak stated the proposal would remove the right to equal pay for different jobs demanding comparable levels of skill, effort, and responsibility. Nowak said, "Let’s call this out for what it is – a smokescreen for slashing women’s rights and making life harder for families." He added, "If Reform was really on the side of women, the party wouldn’t have pledged to rip up the Equality Act, effectively legalising discrimination."

A 2024 employment tribunal ruled that over 3,500 workers at the clothing retailer Next should receive equal pay compared to warehouse employees, where just over half of the staff are male. Next is appealing that judgment.

Rob Kenyon, the Reform candidate in the Makerfield byelection, admitted to making comments about television presenter Carol Vorderman. A social media account linked to Kenyon posted, "I’m sexist, sorry but I am." Nigel Farage characterized Kenyon's past social media comments as laddish pub talk.