Today I presented a 10 minute rule bill to the House regarding the teaching of abstinence to 13 - 16 yr aged girls in school.

The thrust was that girls as young as seven are taught about intercourse, safe sex, how to apply a condom on a banana, where to get condoms, how to detect an STI and that they don’t need to tell their parents anything.

 I believe that is tantamount to encouragement and that we have the balance wrong.

We must have, we have the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Europe.

 I am not seeking to diminish sex education as taught at present, but to include the empowering option that young girls can just say no. In school, children are taught to base the decision whether or not to have sex on their feelings and wishes. I don’t believe young girls under the age of 16 have consistent feelings and that they can change from day to day. My bill was about making boys wait being an empowering and cool thing for girls to do and that it should be taught as a viable, if not preferable option for girls aged 16 and under – especially as sex at that age is unlawful.

The House divided and I won the vote. It is a very good feeling when that happens. I will post the link to the debate and the speech when it is available.