Rape MP talks to police over her ordeal
A SCOTTISH MP yesterday confirmed she has contacted police after revealing she was raped at the age of 14. Michelle Thomson stunned the House of Commons on Thursday when she delivered an emotional and powerful speech detailing the terrifying moment she was attacked by someone she knew and trusted.
Yesterday, the mother of two said she had never revealed her attacker’s identity – but added he was ‘older’ than her.
The 51-year-old did not report her ordeal to the police, or confide in family or friends at the time for fear that they might blame her.
But the independent MP has now contacted Police Scotland and thanked officers for their ‘rapid response’.
Writing on Twitter she said: ‘Humbled by the responses and support.
‘Thanks also to Police Scotland for their rapid response and with whom I have made contact.’
Mrs Thomson left many colleagues at Westminster, including Speaker John
‘Humbled by the support’
Bercow, visibly moved after telling them: ‘I’m not a victim, I’m a survivor.’
The Edinburgh West MP told how she had been walking home from a youth event with a male she knew, who then led her into a wooded area and carried out the attack.
She said that moment had changed her life and revealed she never confided in her mother, who died not knowing of her ordeal.
Speaking on a radio programme, Mrs Thomson said: ‘I haven’t said to people who the person is because it’s not actually about that.’
Asked why she had not reported her attack at the time, she said: ‘The idea of doing that would have been absolutely horrifying and terrifying and appalling.
‘I was terrified that people would blame me for being stupid enough, of being, of course, naive enough of following someone that was older than me into a wooded area. I thought they would blame me.’
However, Mrs Thomson said that in the years following her ordeal she wanted to ‘go after’ her attacker, but seeking help had given her a ‘liberty to move on’.
On the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme she said: ‘I’m not doing this to try to go after somebody, it’s not what it’s about for me – hence the “I’m not a victim, I’m a survivor”. Had it been even ten years ago I would had said probably, “No, I want to go after him”, and I remember after it happened I used to idly daydream – “If I could do this to him, if I could do that” – because I was so angry and bitter. I’m not now.
‘That, I would stress, is a personal perspective I’m taking and everybody must take their own view about how they want to move forward. I’d encourage everyone to do what they feel is right for them.’
On Thursday, Mrs Thomson said that she had told her husband Peter about her attack before getting married and that she had told her adult son and daughter ‘when they were old enough to cope with it and understand it as well’.
She had also told them what she planned to say in Parliament and added: ‘My daughter was fantastic, she said, “You go girl” to me and I was really pleased with that. My son was also so supportive.’
Mrs Thomson revealed her ordeal during a debate for the UN international day for the elimination of violence against women.
She told MPs: ‘When I was 14, I was raped. As is common, it was by somebody who was known to me.’
Last night, Police Scotland said it could not comment.