A Westcountry MP who campaigned for an inquiry into historical paedophile allegations has revealed how she was sexually abused as a child.
Tessa Munt told how she kept silent for decades about the abuse because she feared she would not be believed.
The Somerset MP took the decision to speak publicly for the first time about her childhood trauma as Theresa May announced an independent inquiry to investigate the handling by public bodies of allegations of child sex abuse.
She said the Home Secretary’s decision marked a “massive step forward” for people who had been abused and warned any attempt to now cover up any findings of wrongdoings would happen “over my dead body”.
Mrs Munt, Liberal Democrat MP for Wells, told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “From a personal point of view, I’m a survivor. This isn’t about me, it’s about the victims who are not in a position to be able to speak up and say for themselves that I’ve got my life back together because some of these people will have been suffering for 50, 60, 70 years and we absolutely have to deal with this stuff.
“I had a period in my life which was not happy. I was the victim of sexual abuse but with the support of my family and friends I have dealt with that. I had counselling and it was fantastic. I’m so pleased because it gave me the strength to come somewhere like this and make sure that justice is done for other people.”
Mrs Munt, an aide to Business Secretary Vince Cable, was one of a cross party team of seven MPs that last month called on the Home Secretary to hold a national inquiry into historical child sex abuse and the alleged cover-ups by the authorities.
The MP said she did not talk about the abuse she suffered until she was in her early 30s.
She said: “I was expecting my first child and that’s what brought it into very sharp focus for me. But, I can say to you, it is with the right support and the right counselling and the right help and the right support from my family and my friends, that’s what got me to where I am now.”
“We have to get to the point where young and old are able to speak out about this stuff and know that they will be believed. When I was a child I didn’t feel that I was going to be believed,” she added.
“I am convinced that what’s happened today is a massive step forward and we have to uncover whatever has happened. If there’s wrong been done to people that needs to be put right as best it possibly can because it has been a very long time and if we have a two-year investigation and it takes that to actually sort out what’s happened and gone wrong over the last 30 years, 40 years, however long it is, then, if there is justice for these victims, I am absolutely delighted.”
Mrs Munt said findings of the inquiry should be published in full except where it could jeopardise a prosecution.“
She added: “If somebody has been here (parliament) or is here and they have done something wrong they have to face the full force of the law and they should take the rap like anybody else would.”
Also today...
Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, a retired senior judge was named to head the inquiry. She is experienced in having led an inquiry into child sex abuse in the 1980s. Some are disappointed that she is an 'establishment' figure, being in the House of Lords and having relatives in previous governments. Most think that she will do a great job. I pray that she does.
Tessa Munt told how she kept silent for decades about the abuse because she feared she would not be believed.
The Somerset MP took the decision to speak publicly for the first time about her childhood trauma as Theresa May announced an independent inquiry to investigate the handling by public bodies of allegations of child sex abuse.
 |
| Tessa Munt, Liberal-Democrat MP for Wells, Somerset, UK |
Mrs Munt, Liberal Democrat MP for Wells, told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “From a personal point of view, I’m a survivor. This isn’t about me, it’s about the victims who are not in a position to be able to speak up and say for themselves that I’ve got my life back together because some of these people will have been suffering for 50, 60, 70 years and we absolutely have to deal with this stuff.
“I had a period in my life which was not happy. I was the victim of sexual abuse but with the support of my family and friends I have dealt with that. I had counselling and it was fantastic. I’m so pleased because it gave me the strength to come somewhere like this and make sure that justice is done for other people.”
Mrs Munt, an aide to Business Secretary Vince Cable, was one of a cross party team of seven MPs that last month called on the Home Secretary to hold a national inquiry into historical child sex abuse and the alleged cover-ups by the authorities.
 |
| Wells, Somerset, UK |
She said: “I was expecting my first child and that’s what brought it into very sharp focus for me. But, I can say to you, it is with the right support and the right counselling and the right help and the right support from my family and my friends, that’s what got me to where I am now.”
“We have to get to the point where young and old are able to speak out about this stuff and know that they will be believed. When I was a child I didn’t feel that I was going to be believed,” she added.
“I am convinced that what’s happened today is a massive step forward and we have to uncover whatever has happened. If there’s wrong been done to people that needs to be put right as best it possibly can because it has been a very long time and if we have a two-year investigation and it takes that to actually sort out what’s happened and gone wrong over the last 30 years, 40 years, however long it is, then, if there is justice for these victims, I am absolutely delighted.”
Mrs Munt said findings of the inquiry should be published in full except where it could jeopardise a prosecution.“
She added: “If somebody has been here (parliament) or is here and they have done something wrong they have to face the full force of the law and they should take the rap like anybody else would.”
 |
| Baroness Butler-Sloss |
Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, a retired senior judge was named to head the inquiry. She is experienced in having led an inquiry into child sex abuse in the 1980s. Some are disappointed that she is an 'establishment' figure, being in the House of Lords and having relatives in previous governments. Most think that she will do a great job. I pray that she does.
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