Safeguarding Minister Natalie Fleet has resigned from her post, stating that the responsibilities of the role were "overwhelmingly triggering" and reawakened memories of a traumatic past. Fleet, who has previously spoken about being groomed and raped at age 15, announced her decision on social media.
"Honour of lifetime to be Minister for Safeguarding. Quickly found contents overwhelmingly triggering. Did bravest thing I've ever done and told PM's team I sadly couldn't stay," Fleet wrote. She added that victims deserve someone who can perform at their best and expressed her wish for her successor's success, pledging her full support.
Fleet, 42, was appointed safeguarding minister in May. In past interviews, she described feeling "full of shame and guilt and responsibility" during the time of her grooming. She noted that at the time, terms like "grooming" were not widely used, and she did not understand that the sexual activity was statutory rape given her age and the unprotected nature of the encounters.
Fleet also highlighted a lack of resources and support for women in similar situations. She recounted her difficulty in finding advice for women who became pregnant as a result of rape, stating that there was "nothing" and "no acknowledgement that it happens in the UK." She cited research indicating over 3,000 conceptions annually result from rape, yet no dedicated charity exists to support these women.
Fellow Members of Parliament have praised Fleet for her bravery following her resignation. Prior to this, Fleet had drawn some controversy for a social media post criticizing Reform UK's response to the death of Ann Widdecombe, which she later apologized for and deleted after a backlash.