Allison Gardner
Main Page: Allison Gardner (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)Department Debates - View all Allison Gardner's debates with the Cabinet Office
(1 day, 11 hours ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Prime Minister
At various points questions were asked, and questions were put to the FCDO. The answer back was the same, because it took the view that it was not information it could share with anyone, including myself.
Dr Allison Gardner (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab)
Earlier today, NBC released an interview with hospice worker Rachel Benavidez, who was 22 years old when she became one of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. For 27 years she has been waiting for the crimes committed against her to be recognised, and as she told NBC:
“Until we are heard, until survivors are heard and believed, then I don’t think there’s ever going to be justice.”
Does the Prime Minister agree that we owe it to the hundreds of victims like Rachel to put them first in these debates, not political point scoring, and that he was absolutely right to sack someone like Peter Mandelson, who refused to believe those victims, and if he did, did not care?
The Prime Minister
I do agree with my hon. Friend, and I thank her for making sure that the victims are central to this, as they should be.