From Teenage Mother to MP: Natalie Fleet Shares Her Journey and Vision to Champion Women in Crisis

Newly elected Labour MP Natalie Fleet opens up about her experience of being 'groomed' at 15 and her ambition to represent women's issues. Now a mother of four, Fleet secured her position earlier this month in Bolsover, a constituency long held by Dennis Skinner until it flipped to the Conservatives in 2019.

Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 1

A freshman Member of Parliament, who was pregnant at the age of 15, has disclosed that she was manipulated by an older individual. She now aims to represent and advocate for women who have had children under challenging conditions.

Member of Parliament Natalie Fleet disclosed that her upbringing was marked by hardships, including a period of homelessness, and that she became a mother to her daughter while still very young.

In a forthcoming GB News interview set to air on Sunday, she told Gloria De Piero, "Back then, at 15, I was overwhelmed with feelings of shame, guilt, and a sense of responsibility."

"My sole focus was to ensure that her life was as fulfilling as it would have been with parents of any age. That was my commitment; my own concerns or the effects on me never crossed my mind."

However, now that her daughter is 23 and "the absolute love of her life," Ms. Fleet reflected on the past and realized, "that was not acceptable."

She explained: "The person in question was an older man. Back then, we didn't have terms like 'grooming' to describe what was happening, though now we do."

"I wasn't aware that the sex was unprotected. Being a minor, this qualifies as statutory rape. At that time, it wasn’t a topic of discussion. I didn't view myself in that light."

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Ms. Fleet expressed her astonishment at the lack of guidance available for women facing similar circumstances when she discussed the incident with her daughter.

She stated: "It was as if it didn't exist. There's no recognition that it occurs in the UK.

"Through my investigations, I've discovered that annually, there are more than 3,000 pregnancies resulting from rape, yet there isn't a single charity dedicated to assisting these women."

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Ms. Fleet, who has four children, was recently elected as a Labour MP for Bolsover, a seat previously held for many years by Dennis Skinner until it was captured by the Conservatives in 2019.

In her role, she expressed a desire to utilize her influence to highlight and address issues faced by women like herself.

She expressed her desire to represent those women and people raising children under challenging conditions.

She mentioned that the experiences from her childhood continued to affect her, including having nightmares every week, yet she remained "extremely enthusiastic about the prospects of the upcoming Labour government."

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She stated, "We are committed to breaking down the obstacles that hinder opportunities, ensuring that more people can have success stories similar to mine."

"I owe much of who I am to the previous Labour administration. While it was far from flawless, it significantly altered my path and had a transformative impact."

"That's why it's valuable to have a job where, although you can no stiff roll out of bed and into the store in your pajamas, you must carry a panic button in your purse and your own kids could be in danger. It's truly terrible."

"However, the ability to enhance the lives of less fortunate children is truly remarkable."

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