Millionaire childcare is fair, says Badenoch

Tory conference splits over economic policy

Badenoch says that the Tories want to see "that people who work harder don't get punished for doing so."

She recorded the interview with Laura Kuenssberg on Saturday, ahead of broadcast during the Conservative conference, according to the Guardian's live coverage of the Tory conference.

Asked directly whether a £1m earner should qualify, Badenoch gave a one-word answer: no income level should be excluded.

Why Badenoch defends millionaire childcare

Badenoch argued the policy targets people just above the current threshold, not the very wealthy.

She gave the example of a deputy headteacher moving from £85,000 to £110,000.

"The kind of people that we're really targeting - might be - a deputy headteacher who wants to become a head teacher.

"She goes from £85,000 to £110,000. She's got three kids. All of a sudden she's losing tens of thousands of pounds," she said.

The policy lands as the Conservatives contend with wider turbulence this conference season.

Reform UK stands accused of 'waging war on what Britain is', while former chancellor George Osborne has urged the UK to rejoin the EU customs union.

Both are signs of deepening splits on the right.

Pressed on why the party was ruling out a means test, Badenoch gave a blunt reply.

"I believe that the number of people who have very small children who are earning tens of millions of pounds is negligible."

She added that the conference message was one of "policies for everybody", regardless of income.