Parliament date set for ‘summer of sex’ debate

South Derbyshire MP Samantha Niblett will lead a House of Commons debate on lifelong sex education on 26 November, after campaigning for teaching about consent, respect and healthy relationships. She says the debate is a first step towards preventing abuse and violence and plans to make initial recommendations to the government.

Niblett applied for the debate in March and sought a place in the Commons chamber, which she said meant a longer wait than a debate in Westminster Hall. Her campaign, dubbed the “summer of sex”, received a mixed response in Westminster. Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed to meet her in September and praised her for raising issues others avoid; a separate parliamentary event displaying sex education aids is not expected until the New Year.