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The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Labour minister Chris Bryant says he was sexually abused by former National Youth Theatre boss
Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant has said he was sexually abused as a teenager by the then head of the National Youth Theatre. The Labour minister also said he has been sexually assaulted by five male MPs during his time in Westminster, although he has not named or reported them. Sir Chris said Michael Croft, who died in 1986, had invited him to dinner every evening while he was attending the company in London during the summer of 1978. Mr Croft was 40 years the then-16-year-old's Sir Chris's senior and the MP said one evening, having returned to Mr Croft's house, he came back from the toilet to find his host naked except for a silk robe. The MP said Mr Croft then asked him for sex, which he felt he had no option but to go through with, leaving him feeling like he was 'a 16-year-old w****'. Speaking to The Sunday Times ahead of the release of his book, A Life And A Half: The Unexpected Making Of A Politician, Sir Chris said: 'I don't like telling this very much because I've not told it very often. 'It was always the same Italian in King's Cross. He would eat and drink, I would eat, then he would theoretically give me a lift home, except I always ended up at his house.' Sir Chris says Mr Croft never made an advance towards him again, with the pair remaining friends. An ordained minister, he conducted Mr Croft's funeral. 'He behaved absolutely appallingly, it's despicable,' Sir Chris added. 'Michael, in my case, managed to spot somebody who was gay at a time when nearly all homosexuality was illegal – certainly very frowned on – so presumed that people would keep a secret.' He said at least one friend during his National Youth Theatre days was also abused by Mr Croft. Speaking about incidents he said occurred in Westminster, Sir Chris said he did not report them at the time. 'There was no system for doing so and I was frightened it would make me look bad,' he said, adding he felt homophobia in parliament has declined during his 24 years as an MP. A statement on the National Youth Theatre website said: 'We are grateful to Chris Bryant for disclosing to our team the historical abuse he suffered in the company in the 1970s. We are very sorry that this happened to him and to others who have previously shared with us their accounts of historic abuse by the same perpetrator. 'As we set out in a public statement on the case in 2017, we stand in solidarity with all victims of abuse and encourage anyone who has experienced abuse, no matter how long ago, to speak to someone and access support. 'In this case the perpetrator has been deceased since 1986, but all reports made to us will be dealt with in accordance with our robust and formalised safeguarding policy and practice. 'While Chris writes he doesn't feel damaged by what happened, we recognise that being subjected to an abuse of power can have lasting consequences for many, in different ways. 'Anyone getting in touch will be listened to and treated with care and respect by trained professionals, in line with our certified trauma-informed practice. 'We are grateful to Chris for his support of our organisation today, and acknowledgement of how different a charity we are in 2025 to the one he encountered in the 1970s, with thorough safeguarding practices and policies in place.'
BBC News
8 minutes ago
- BBC News
Residents escape early morning house fire in Glen Parva
A house in Glen Parva has been badly damaged in a fire in the early hours of Sunday Fire and Rescue Service said five crews tackled the blaze in Rushton Drive after a 999 call at 03:44 BST.A fire service spokesperson said the residents had escaped the house, and a man had been taken to hospital as a Police attended the scene and said nobody had been injured in the fire. Rushton Drive has been closed between Gees Lock Close and Amanda Road, police a post on social media, the force said: "The fire has not spread but has caused a lot of smoke."A fire service spokesperson told the BBC the first floor and roof of the semi-detached property had been badly damaged by was also caused to the ground floor by water used to extinguish the fire service said an investigation was under way, but the cause of the fire was believed to be an electrical fault.
The Sun
8 minutes ago
- The Sun
Households can apply for supermarket vouchers worth £320 to spend in Waitrose and M&S in just HOURS
HOUSEHOLDS will be able to apply for supermarket vouchers to spend in supermarkets like Waitrose and M&S in a matter of hours. Families struggling with the cost of living can receive up to £320 to put towards their food shops. This is part of a wider essential support scheme to take a bit of pressure off of low income families. Those who are eligible and meet the criteria can apply when applications re-open tomorrow (August 4th). Each council has its own share of the £742million, which they can dole out to residents in need. The tokens can then be used in a wide range of shops. All the shops accepting vouchers Here is a list of the shops that will accept the tokens: Aldi Asda Farmfoods Iceland M&S Morrisons Sainsbury's Tesco Waitrose Residents of North Northamptonshire are among those who will be able to apply for the vouchers. According to the council website, a single person household can be awarded £150, £260 is available for two people, and £320 will be handed out to homes of 3 or more residents. The site also highlights that the eligibility criteria must be met in order to receive this support. The council has stated: "Wider essentials and cost of living support is not intended as emergency support and one award will be allocated per eligible household. You also must provide a national insurance number and proof of income when applying for the vouchers. This scheme was paused due to the high number of applications but will resume tomorrow. Five tips to feed your family for less and save on your supermarket shop The council asks that applicants wait two months for their request to be processed. If approved, your voucher will be sent to your email address. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. And don't delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date. Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it's crucial you apply as soon as possible Visit North Northamptonshire Council for more information and to apply. 3 3
