Natalie Fleet leaves 'triggering' safeguarding minister role
The MP for Bolsover has spoken about how she was groomed and raped as a teenager.
Natalie Fleet has stepped away from her role as safeguarding minister, saying the position was “triggering” given her own experiences as a teenager, according to BBC Politics.
Fleet, the MP for Bolsover, has previously spoken publicly about being groomed and raped when she was younger. In comments reported by the BBC, she linked that personal history to the demands of the safeguarding brief, indicating that the work had become difficult for her to continue in.
Safeguarding ministers are responsible for issues connected to the protection of vulnerable people, including children and adults at risk. The role can involve dealing with distressing casework and policy areas that overlap with abuse, exploitation and violence. Fleet’s decision highlights the strain that such responsibilities can place on someone with direct personal experience of abuse.
The BBC report did not provide further detail about the timing of her departure or who may replace her. It also did not include any additional comments from Fleet beyond the account of why she found the role difficult. Based on the available information, the key issue is that the minister judged the post too closely tied to her trauma for her to remain in it comfortably.
Fleet’s experience has been part of her public profile as an MP, and her departure adds another example of how personal history can shape the suitability of certain government roles. The report suggests that her decision was driven by the emotional impact of the job rather than by a policy disagreement or wider political dispute.
This article is based on a monitored public feed and attributed reporting from BBC Politics.
Source: BBC Politics - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq56g2n083do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
