In an interview on Monday last week, Tessa welcomed The Home Secretary’s announcement to hold a full, independent Inquiry into worrying patterns of ‘lost’, suppressed and destroyed evidence about paedophile rings which, it is alleged, involve high-profile individuals.

Tessa and six other MPs had written to Theresa May last month about the need for a completely independent investigation into the procedures used by the authorities when reports of sexual abuse are raised.  She had serious concerns about apparently side-lined and abandoned prosecutions and alleged cover-ups, stemming from victims’ assertions that abusers were influential, famous and consequently powerful – and able to sway society’s official ‘enforcers’ away from the path to justice.

During that interview, Tessa disclosed that she had been a victim of sexual abuse in her childhood. 

Tessa said:

“I’m a survivor.”

Three small words I dropped into conversation in the House of Commons this week.  I want to explain what those words mean to me.