House of Commons · Westminster Hall
02 September 2025 · 8 other contributors · 4,158 words
Opened by Joani Reid Lab East Kilbride and Strathaven
Responding minister: Jess Phillips
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Joani Reid raised concerns about violence against women and girls: pornography prostitution in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Reid asks for proper age and consent checks to protect young people from harmful content online and emphasises the need for better regulations under the Online Safety Act 2023.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Joani Reid highlights the fusion of pornography and sex trade into a system that monetises sexual access to women, with OnlyFans being the global giant generating $6.6 billion in revenue last year while hiding child abuse material behind paywalls. She cites Reuters documentation of criminal cases involving child sexual abuse on the platform, including extreme abuse cases.
Highlights issues with OnlyFans marketing content creators pushing their content out on other platforms and agrees that pornography laws are outdated.
Agrees with the need for action from companies promoting and disseminating this type of material, in addition to the work of parents.
Supports banning depictions in pornography that encourage a sexual interest in children and step-family incest.
Shannon commends Joani Reid on bringing the debate forward, agreeing that online platforms like OnlyFans pose a threat to young people's perceptions of sexual relations and need proper age verification checks.
Welcomes the Government’s steps to make strangulation an aggravating factor when sentencing for murder.
Assures other Members that ministerial colleagues are looking into Baroness Burtin’s review for inspiration and action.
Supports shifting criminal burden onto purchasers of sex, highlighting that pornography and prostitution are forms of abuse.
Gilbert congratulates Joani Reid for securing the debate, stressing that the upcoming violence against women and girls strategy should explicitly recognise and address prostitution and pornography as forms of commercial sexual exploitation.
Government Response
Jess PhillipsThe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
Commits to halving violence against women and girls. Highlights the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023, which includes measures to combat illegal content on online platforms. Law enforcement officers will have new tools to disrupt sexual exploitation facilitated through online platforms. Emphasises the need for effective age-assurance checks on pornographic websites accessible in the UK. Supports education on healthy relationships and sex and health.