'I'm not a victim, I'm a survivor': MP moves colleagues to tears after sharing rape experience

Independent MP Michelle Thomson recalling her experience Credit: House of Commons

  • Video report by ITV News Reporter Olivia Kinsley

An MP's revelation that she was raped at 14 moved some colleagues as she told the Commons: "I'm not scared, I'm not a victim, I'm a survivor."

Independent Michelle Thomson, 51, said the attack was "mercifully quick" but she carried the "guilt, anger, fear, sadness and bitterness" for years

Recalling the experience, Ms Thomson said: "When I was 14, I was raped. As is common, it was by somebody who was known to me.

"He had offered to walk me home from a youth event and in those days everybody walked everywhere, it was quite common to do that."

"It was mercifully quick and I remember first of all feeling surprise, then fear, then horror as I realised I quite simply couldn't escape - because he was stronger than me," Ms Thomson added.

  • "I bottled it all up inside me"

The MP said after her ordeal, she had walked home alone crying and in shock.

"I didn't tell my mother, I didn't tell my father, I didn't tell my friends and I didn't tell the police. I bottled it all up inside me."

Full speech by MP Michelle Thomson

Ms Thomson also revealed that she had chosen to keep the attack from her mother before she died as "an act of love" to protect her.

The MP said she later felt she had a duty to tell her husband about what happened: "But for many years I simply could not say the words without crying. It was only in my mid-40s that I took some steps to go and get help with it."

But despite her experience, Ms Thomson said this she is "blessed" in her life and has been happily married for 25 years.

She went on: "But if this was the effect from one small, albeit significant, event in my life stage, how must it be for those women who are carrying this

  • Speaker praises MP for leaving "indelible impression on us all"

Commons Speaker John Bercow thanked Ms Thomson for her speech, and said she had "left an indelible impression on us all".

The Edinburgh West MP was also comforted by former SNP colleagues and Labour MPs at the end of her speech.

The newly-elected MP Tracy Brabin, who now holds murdered MP Jo Cox's Batley and Spen seat, later recounted how a man attempted to rape her when she was at university aged 20.

The former Coronation Street actress said she counted herself as "one of the lucky ones" and that the perpetrator was brought to justice.

Tracey Brabin urged the Government to do more to combat violence against women. Credit: HoC

Ms Thomson has been hailed by campaigners for her bravery in sharing her story publicly.

Sandy Brindley, from Rape Crisis Scotland, said: "Someone speaking so publicly about rape can send a strong message to other rape survivors - that the shame is not theirs, and it is okay to talk about it and to seek support.

Sarah Green, co-director of the End Violence Against Women coalition, said: "Sadly,rape is an extremely common offence and thousands of women could tell a similar story to Michelle.

"We need politicians, everyone working on the frontline of our public services and journalists to understand what Michelle's story tells us about how those who are raped often question themselves and about how they protect others by not disclosing."

If you have been affected by the issue and are in distress or need some support, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 116 123 or click here for their website.

For those in the Republic of Ireland, the number is 116 123