MP contacts police after rape revelation

Disclosure: Michelle Thomson ‘overwhelmed’ by support since brave Commons speech

Michelle Thomson MP has made contact with police after revealing she was raped as a 14-year-old girl.

The independent MP told the House of Commons on Thursday she was attacked in a wooded area 37 years ago by someone she knew.

The Edinburgh West representative moved fellow MPs to tears as she told them “I’m not a victim, I’m a survivor” during a debate on the UN’s International Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women.

Campaigners and fellow politicians have praised her for her bravery.

The MP said she has been “overwhelmed” by supportive messages.

In a tweet on Friday, she stated: “Humbled by the responses and support. Thanks also to @policescotland for their rapid response and with whom I have made contact.”

Police have not commented on the message. However, it is understood officers would make an approach to an individual to see if they want to take matters further if they publicly disclose they have been the victim of an offence.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said earlier: “Speaking out about sexual abuse is incredibly difficult and disclosures are often made many years after an incident took place.

“Police Scotland will listen to any such disclosure, regardless of the passage of time, and will investigate.

“Our response is always victimfocused and every investigation will be tailored to meet their individual needs.”

The MP told the Commons she had known her attacker and afterwards had “bottled it all up inside”.

Ms Thomson related how the rape had “fatally undermined” her selfesteem, confidence and sense of selfworth, and said she had not sought help until her mid-40s.

She later told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme that a decade ago she wanted to “go after” her attacker but seeking help had given her “a liberty to move on”.

She said: “I’m not doing this to try and 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 10 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 would encourage everyone to do what is right for them.”

Ms Thomson’s decision to share her story publicly was hailed as “brave and important” by Rape Crisis Scotland.

National co-ordinator Sandy Brindley 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.”

“I’m not doing this to try and go after somebody, it’s not what it’s about for me. MICHELLE THOMSON