Summary
Overview
Labour MP Natalie Fleet discusses the tumultuous week in Westminster surrounding the Epstein documents, Peter Mandelson's appointment, and violence against women. Fleet, who represents Bolsover and is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, offers a deeply personal perspective on the government's handling of these issues, her own journey to Parliament, and her determination to use her platform to advocate for victims. She defends Keir Starmer's commitment to tackling violence against women despite recent controversies, while acknowledging the emotional toll the week has taken on women MPs.
The Worst Week as an MP
Fleet describes the emotional exhaustion of navigating the Epstein scandal fallout as a woman MP focused on violence against women issues. Despite the difficulties, she saw the Women's PLP meeting with the Prime Minister as constructive and positive, where he acknowledged structural misogyny and committed to action. She secured his agreement to meet with Al-Fayed victims, drawing parallels between Britain's own sexual abuse scandals and the Epstein case.
- Fleet told the Prime Minister it was the worst week she'd had as an MP, feeling exhausted by the constant focus on survivors' stories
- The Women's PLP meeting was constructive, with Starmer saying 'I hear you, I am sorry' and acknowledging structural misogyny
- Fleet secured Starmer's agreement to meet with Al-Fayed victims, believing he genuinely cares about these issues
- Fleet argues Britain has its own Epstein in Mohammed Al-Fayed, whose victims faced trafficking, forced pregnancy, and state complicity
" I don't want you to be the rapey MP and I never wanted that either but women aren't speaking out and I fought really hard for this platform "
" My lad's just got a job at Iceland. It's £10 an hour. This is an exciting first job for him. These girls had their first job at Harrods and were scouted to be fast-tracked. We now know those medical examinations checked they were virgins "
Meeting Al-Fayed Victims
Fleet describes meeting Al-Fayed victims with Harriet Harman, hearing stories of women who were scouted at Harrods, given medical examinations to check if they were virgins, then trafficked, tortured, forcibly impregnated and given forced abortions. She argues that despite some media coverage, there hasn't been the moral outrage these crimes deserve, drawing parallels to how grooming gangs and Epstein were treated.
- Al-Fayed victims were given 'special health benefits' at Harrods - medical examinations that checked if they were virgins or had STIs
- One victim was trafficked out of the country, made reliant on drugs, tortured, kept captive, forcibly impregnated and taken for forced abortion
- The state was involved through doctors and the GMC, with Al-Fayed's minders following victims and making threats
- Fleet argues there's been BBC coverage and Dispatches programs but no moral outrage, just like with grooming gangs
" The worst story I heard was she was trafficked out the country, brought back, made reliant on drugs, tortured, kept captive, forcibly impregnated, taken to hospital to have a forced abortion. The state was involved in a lot of this "
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