Labour MP Samantha Niblett has slammed Kemi Badenoch’s “cheap shot” over her “Summer of Sex” campaign, insisting the push for sexual education remains vital
A Labour MP who wants to turn 2026 into a “summer of sex” has hit back at Kemi Badenoch after the Tory leader mocked her plan to bring sex toys into Parliament.
Samantha Niblett, the MP for South Derbyshire, sparked a political row with her “Yes Sex Please, We’re British!” campaign. The movement aims to strip away British taboos and overhaul sex education to focus on pleasure and health. But the campaign faced a frosty reception at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of “giving a whole new meaning to fiddling while Rome burns,” slamming the promotion of adult toys during a time of “profound national seriousness.”
Speaking to Sky News, Ms Niblett didn’t hold back in her response to the Tory chief’s jibes. She said: “I was really disappointed to hear her have such a cheap shot.
“We’re not promoting sex toys and it just takes away from the seriousness of the campaign and what we’re hoping to achieve, which is about empowering people and making people happier. All it did, I think, was prove the need for the campaign.”
The 46-year-old politician had previously suggested she hoped to bring sex toys onto the historic parliamentary estate to spark honest conversations about pleasure, even if they might get snagged by security.
Addressing the “Rome burns” comment, Niblett acknowledged the grim state of global affairs but insisted that life – and sex – goes on.
She said: “There will always be things that are happening in the world that are not good. And at the minute, it does feel like it’s burning.
“But people are still going about their day. They are still having sex and they’re still wanting to have sex.”
The MP argued that the campaign has a vital serious side, particularly regarding safety and consent.
Niblett added: “The most important thing is that there are still people that are victims and survivors of sexual assault. Whilst ever that is the case, I think there’s always a case for this campaign.”
The “Summer of Sex” is set to include a tour of various organisations to gather information before a major parliamentary debate in the autumn. Working alongside sex tech guru Cindy Gallop, Niblett is pushing for a radical rethink of how the UK views intimacy.
The MP has been candid about her own life, admitting to watching pornography and praising sites that show “real people” having “messy, funny, intimate” sex. She previously noted that masturbation “as well as making you feel good…is good for your health,” citing benefits for stress and even lowering the risk of prostate cancer.
Despite the backlash from across the aisle, Niblett remains committed to reminding the public that sex should be a “joyful thing” and is looking to enlist stars like Davina McCall to help spread the word.
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