Bill dedicated to rape victim

Politics: North-east MP says woman’s bravery has helped the fight for equality

A north-east MP who has campaigned to help end violence against women has dedicated her efforts to a constituent who was raped.

Eilidh Whiteford highlighted Sarah Scott’s ordeal in the House of Commons yesterday, as members debated her private members’ bill.

Despite “pantomime villain” attempts to block the proposals, the legislation moved a step closer to becoming law.

If successful, it will require the UK Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention.

This is the Council of Europe agreement, signed in 2012, on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The UK played a prominent role in developing it, but the process subsequently stalled.

The Banff and Buchan MP, who has the backing of Theresa May, said Ms Scott had waived her right to anonymity after an “exceptionally brutal rape” in Aberdeen in 2010.

She added: “This bill is for you and for every person who knows at first

“Thank you for helping us all be stronger and braver in this battle”

hand the brutal, life-shattering reality of sexual violence and has had the courage to claim justice and fight for it.

“Thank you for helping us all be a bit braver and a bit stronger in the fight for equality and human rights, and more determined than ever to end this abuse once and for all.”

Tory MP Philip Davies spoke for about 91 minutes in an attempt to prevent the bill from progressing, claiming such a move in other countries had not made a “blind bit of difference”.

But the SNP successfully cut the debate short by calling a closure motion.

This is a parliamentary procedure that – if 100 MPs are present – can be used to trigger a vote.

Afterwards, Ms Whiteford hailed the “huge and historic step forward”, but acknowledged it was a “milestone on the journey to equality and justice for women” rather than “an end point”.

The Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill received its third reading by 138 votes to one.

It will now undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords.

CLOSER: Eilidh Whiteford with the domestic violence bill, which received its third reading by 138 votes to one