Labour MP reveals she was raped while at work event

LocalPolitics
11 Mar 2026 • 2:48 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Labour MP Charlotte Nichols waived her anonymity to reveal she was raped and waited 1,088 days for her case to reach trial.
  • She shared her experience during a debate on the Courts and Tribunals Bill, opposing Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy's plans to curb access to jury trials.
  • Ms Nichols accused Mr Lammy of 'weaponising' the experiences of rape victims to push through reforms she believes are not genuinely victim-focused.
  • The proposed Bill would limit jury trials to cases with a likely sentence of three years or more, to be heard by a single Crown Court judge, and allow magistrates' courts to handle cases up to two years.
  • Despite her rapist being acquitted in criminal court, Ms Nichols received compensation after a civil case found she had been raped, as the Bill passed its second parliamentary stage with a majority of 101.

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