Labour MP Samantha Niblett has formally launched her 'summer of sex' campaign, part of her broader 'Yes Sex Please, We're British!' initiative, aimed at tackling the stigma surrounding sex and promoting comprehensive education on consent, respect, and healthy relationships. The South Derbyshire MP hopes her efforts will contribute to preventing abuse and violence across the UK.
The campaign, which saw a launch event held in London this week, has garnered significant attention and, according to Niblett, some ridicule – including from sections of her own party. The MP, who has been nicknamed the 'sex MP', stated that this backlash is partly why she is pursuing the campaign, believing it highlights the urgent need to normalise discussions around sex. Later in the autumn, Niblett plans to display sex toys and educational aids within Parliament, further pushing her agenda.
The initiative comes amidst concerning statistics regarding sexual assault in England and Wales. The Crime Survey for England and Wales, for the year ending March 2025, revealed that approximately 15.9% of individuals aged 16 or over – equating to 7.7 million people – had experienced sexual assault since turning 16. Of these, 1.9 million were victims of rape, with 1.8 million of those victims being female, as reported by the Office for National Statistics.
The need for improved sex education has long been highlighted by various organisations. In 2017, the Local Government Association (LGA) warned that deficiencies in relationships and sex education in some secondary schools were creating a 'ticking sexual health time bomb'. Building on this, fellow Labour MP Alistair Strathern introduced the Relationships and Sex Education (Further Education Sector) Bill to Parliament in June, advocating for mandatory relationships and sex education for 16 to 18-year-olds. This followed a petition by the survivor-led group Make It Mandatory, which garnered over 106,000 signatures calling for sex education to be mandated up to age 18.
Niblett has partnered with sex educator Cindy Gallop, who advocates for moving away from pornography as a primary source of sex education. Gallop has previously highlighted that readily available online pornography, combined with society's reluctance to discuss sex openly, has led to pornography becoming the 'default sex education' for many. While Niblett acknowledges the 'absolutely political' nature of destigmatising sex and improving education, she stresses that it is not a party-political issue.
However, the campaign has not been without its critics, even from within Labour. Earlier this year, some in the Labour administration reportedly advised Niblett against media appearances related to the campaign. During an appearance on the BBC's Politics Live programme in April, Labour MP Tom Hayes, while commending Niblett, suggested his constituents in Bournemouth East would prefer a focus on defence and the cost of living. Similarly, Liberal Democrat MP Anna Sabine indicated her constituents would prioritise issues like potholes and the cost of living. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also criticised the campaign during Prime Minister's Questions, quipping that promoting sex toys in Parliament gave a new meaning to 'fiddling while Rome burns'.