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Minister for Men and Boys — [DEREK TWIGG in the Chair]
25 February 2026
Lead MP
Luke Evans
Hinckley and Bosworth
Con
Responding Minister
Olivia Bailey
Tags
NHSEmploymentForeign AffairsWomen & EqualitiesMental Health
Word Count: 13611
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Luke Evans raised concerns about minister for men and boys — [derek twigg in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I ask the Government to consider appointing a Minister for Men and Boys to address these cross-departmental issues and improve outcomes for boys and men across health, education, employment, justice, and culture. Specifically, I want to know why we have a women's minister but not one for men.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
I am concerned about the significant issues facing boys and men, including a higher suicide rate among men under 50, more frequent drug abuse, worse educational outcomes, higher unemployment rates, and overrepresentation in prison. The data shows that men are falling behind in various aspects of life compared to women, which is exacerbated by a lack of clear role models and positive cultural representation.
Jack Abbott
Lab Co-op
Ipswich
Mr Abbott highlighted the educational challenges faced by boys in Ipswich, noting that one in three boys start school without foundational skills. He cited a Suffolk county council report showing only 62% of boys achieving a good level of development at age five compared to 79% of girls. The MP also addressed online dangers and the importance of role models for young boys.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Mr Shannon highlighted the underachievement of Protestant working-class boys in Northern Ireland, citing statistics from 2018-19 showing that only 38% of these boys achieved five GCSEs compared to 46.7% of Catholic boys. He also discussed the issue of mental health among young men and the high rates of suicide, mentioning 221 suicides in Northern Ireland in 2023, with 77% being males under 50. In his brief intervention, Jim Shannon acknowledged that mothers can also serve as positive role models for young boys alongside fathers.
Lee Anderson
Reform
Ashfield
Mr Anderson discussed the need for a Minister for men and boys, highlighting issues such as poor educational outcomes, lack of employment opportunities, and societal pressures on young males. He cited examples of white working-class young boys struggling in an economy that has shifted away from traditional industries. Mr Anderson also pointed out the absence of male role models and support systems, including fewer male teachers and a benefits system discouraging family units. He supports the Minister's work with young boys but questions whether it is helpful to tell boys they can wear dresses at school.
Maya Ellis
Lab
Ribble Valley
Commends parents for raising kind and compassionate boys despite the challenges they face, especially in early years education. Acknowledges the importance of teachers spotting misogyny but highlights that parents are key to navigating these issues. Does the hon. Member agree that one of the things that has caused a lack of male role models is the lack of third spaces and youth centres? The disinvestment in youth services, which I think averaged about 70% per local authority under the previous Government, has led to a lot of the reduction in role models in the third spaces and youth areas, and in youth funding.
Mims Davies
Con
East Grinstead and Uckfield
She congratulated the hon. Member for Hinckley and Bosworth on securing the debate, discussed her role as co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on men and boys' issues, highlighted the importance of creating a fair society where everyone can prosper, mentioned the high rate of male suicides in England and Wales, and praised the first men's health strategy. She also talked about positive masculinity, family court support for fathers, the MAN v FAT programme, online safety for young people, domestic violence as criminality rather than abuse, and asked the Government about their position on masculinity culture. She requests information on whether the Government's strategies for young offenders and other areas are achieving desired outcomes in constituencies.
Peter Bedford
Con
Mid Leicestershire
Men face significant challenges that are often overlooked, including in education where only about 60% of boys are deemed school-ready compared to 75% of girls. There is also a disparity in employment and health, with men being more likely to suffer from alcoholism and cardiovascular diseases than women.
Sam Rushworth
Lab
Bishop Auckland
Asked about boys being seen as a problem and their receptiveness to harmful messages like those from Andrew Tate. Mr Rushworth expressed concern about the underachievement of boys in education and the lack of emotional support for them. He highlighted statistics showing that only 60% of boys are school-ready before starting early-years education, compared to 75% of girls, and noted that working-class boys start behind and stay behind. He also raised issues related to men's health, including male suicide and the closure of ManHealth support groups in his constituency due to funding cuts. Rushworth questioned whether disaggregated data on domestic abuse by gender exists, pointing out that statistics often lump all forms of domestic violence together without specifying if the perpetrator is male or female.
Sorcha Eastwood
Alliance
Lagan Valley
Sorcha Eastwood highlighted the societal impact of strong gender stereotypes in Northern Ireland, advocating for inclusive conversations that include men and boys. She mentioned issues such as sexual violence and domestic abuse within same-sex relationships, apprenticeships for care-experienced young people, and concerns about family access and contact in the court system. Eastwood also discussed the importance of supporting individuals pursuing traditional roles like manufacturing or joining the armed forces.
Tessa Munt
Lib Dem
Wells and Mendip Hills
Discussed the need for positive male role models in education, noting that although the number of male teachers is increasing slightly, their proportion in teacher training has decreased marginally. Ms Munt intervened to discuss the lack of data on child arrangements orders given to fathers by judges. She emphasised the need for data to understand how many children live with which parent. The speaker raised concerns about the lack of data on various issues affecting men and boys, including child arrangements orders, paternity leave statistics, and domestic violence against men. She also highlighted the issue of children being used as weapons in custody battles and the need for positive male role models. Additionally, she discussed prostate cancer screening and male suicide rates, emphasizing the importance of community support networks. She asks if the Minister believes that men can be good at raising children.
Government Response
Olivia Bailey
Government Response
It is an honour to serve under the chairmanship of Mr Twigg. I express gratitude towards Dr Evans for initiating this debate and thank all hon. Members for their thoughtful contributions, highlighting issues such as health, work, family life, and online harmful influences facing men and boys today.
As Equalities Minister, I am committed to supporting children's happiness and well-being through initiatives like the National Year of Reading 2026, which focuses on improving reading among boys aged 10-16. Addressing challenges in healthcare, three out of four suicides in 2024 involved men, with a significant portion being middle-aged males. To tackle this issue, we are implementing community health and suicide prevention programs, collaborating with the Premier League to raise awareness about mental health support.
We have increased NHS mental health services by hiring nearly 7,000 additional workers since July 2024, and more adults with anxiety and depression are now accessing talking therapies. The men's health strategy focuses on enhancing access to health services and addressing major health issues like mental health, respiratory illness, prostate cancer, and heart disease.
Regarding education, over £28 million has been allocated to improve reading and writing standards, particularly for underperforming boys in English. We are also working towards a more balanced representation of men in the teaching workforce through targeted recruitment campaigns and role models.
To combat loneliness among young men, we have invested over £300,000 to support Rugby League Cares initiatives aimed at fostering community and belonging.
The Deputy Prime Minister is leading work across government to improve outcomes for men and boys, with a planned national summit later this year.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.