Getty ImagesLabour MP Sir Chris Bryant has said he was sexually abused as a teenager by the late former head of the National Youth Theatre, Michael Croft.
Sir Chris said Mr Croft, who died in 1986, had invited him to dinner every evening while he was attending the company in London during the summer of 1978.
The MP for Rhondda and Ogmore made the comments in an interview with The Sunday Times.
In a statement, the National Youth Theatre said it was “very sorry that this happened to him and to others who have previously shared with us their accounts of historic abuse by the same perpetrator”.
Mr Croft was 40 years the senior of the then 16-year-old and Sir Chris said one evening, having returned to Mr Croft’s house, he came back from the toilet to find his host naked except for a silk robe.
He said Mr Croft then asked him for sex, which he felt he had no option but to go through with, leaving him feeling like he was “a 16-year-old whore”.
In the interview ahead of the release of his book, Sir Chris said: “I don’t like telling this very much because I’ve not told it very often.
“It was always the same Italian in King’s Cross. He would eat and drink, I would eat, then he would theoretically give me a lift home, except I always ended up at his house.”
Sir Chris said Mr Croft never made an advance towards him again, with the pair remaining friends. An ordained minister, he conducted Mr Croft’s funeral.
“He behaved absolutely appallingly, it’s despicable,” Sir Chris added.
“Michael, in my case, managed to spot somebody who was gay at a time when nearly all homosexuality was illegal – certainly very frowned on – so presumed that people would keep a secret.”
He told The Sunday Times that in spite of the alleged abuse, he did not regret remaining friends with Croft and “didn’t feel crucified by” the incident.
“I think it’s important that people who have managed to be OK are able to tell these stories,” he said, adding, “It’s like with bullying – until one person tells the story, everyone else thinks they’re the only person.”
He said at least one friend during his National Youth Theatre days was also abused by Mr Croft.
The 63-year-old also said he has been sexually assaulted by five male MPs during his time in Westminster, although he has not named or reported them.
“There was no system for doing so and I was frightened it would make me look bad,” he said, adding he felt homophobia in Parliament had declined during his 24 years as an MP.
‘Very sorry’
A statement on the National Youth Theatre website said it was “grateful to Chris Bryant for disclosing to our team the historical abuse he suffered in the company in the 1970s”.
“We are very sorry that this happened to him and to others who have previously shared with us their accounts of historic abuse by the same perpetrator.
“As we set out in a public statement on the case in 2017, we stand in solidarity with all victims of abuse and encourage anyone who has experienced abuse, no matter how long ago, to speak to someone and access support.”
If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story you can visit the Action Line for details of organisations who can offer support.
