Age of consent: UK minister says government may consider age-gap rules
A UK minister says age-gap rules may be considered. We examined how England and Wales already protect teenagers after they turn 16.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Pat McFadden
British work and pensions secretary and Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East.
Pat McFadden is the UK secretary of state for work and pensions and the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East. He has served in Parliament since May 2005. Before taking his current department in September 2025, he was chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, a senior Cabinet role, from July 2024.
Daylight Post reports on his statement that the government will probably consider age-gap rules to protect 16- and 17-year-olds. Our article examines how the proposal differs from the protections that already apply in England and Wales.
In our reporting