Campaigners Call for Staggered Consent Law to Protect 16- and 17-Year-Olds
Calls for stronger legal protection for 16- and 17-year-olds from sexual exploitation by older adults have followed allegations against Russell Brand and, separately, David Walliams. The Guardian reported the calls on 13 November 2026.
One route under discussion is a staggered consent law. Under such a model, the law would set different rules depending on the age gap between the people involved, rather than a single age cut-off. The approach is favoured by campaigners and supported by some Labour MPs, members of the UK Parliament from the Labour Party.
The Close the Consent Gap campaign, founded by Layla Stone, proposes making it a criminal offence for a 16- or 17-year-old to engage in sexual activity with anyone more than three years older.
Claire Waxman, the victims' commissioner for England and Wales, an official who speaks on behalf of victims of crime, has called for "serious conversations" on the potential for legislative change to consent law.
Experts in the field include Charlotte Proudman, a barrister who specialises in law on violence against women and girls. Prof Roger Ingham directs the Centre for Sexual Health Research at the University of Southampton, and Dr Sophie King-Hill is an associate professor at the University of Birmingham who researches the sexual behaviour of children and young people.
Other countries already use age differences in their laws. Canada recognises age difference as a factor in determining exploitation for 16- and 17-year-olds. For 14- and 15-year-olds, its law criminalises any sexual activity if a partner is five or more years older.
