A Labour MP and survivor of domestic abuse branded men who use coronavirus as an opportunity to control partners ‘bullies’ and ‘cowards.’
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield moved MPs to tears last year, when she revealed she was a survivor in a Commons speech on the Domestic Abuse bill.
And she spoke during a debate on the same, long-delayed bill again today, urging those who are taking advantage of the crisis to frighten those closest to them to stop.
She said that after her October speech she had received hundreds of emails, with more arriving every day, as "reminders of the grim reality in many households in the UK."
She said: "The stories are often shocking and provoke reactions of horror and sorrow. But also relief, because mostly these are survivors' stories told to me from their past.
"The ones I don't hear from as much, however are the ones in the middle of this reality right now. They are living locked down, locked in, locked away."
“Threatened and terrorised by someone who thinks it's OK to use his wife, partner or family as an emotional or physical punchbag.
“What almighty cowards they are.”
She went on: “Bullies who seize the opportunity of a global crisis to show those smaller and weaker than them that they are in control.
"Whether you are a manual worker or a magnate with minions, if you use your fists or your fury to frighten those closest to you, you are certainly not in control, and you need to stop."
spoke during a debate on her long-delayed Domestic Abuse Bill, which finally had its second reading in the House of Commons today.
The bill was repeatedly delayed in its progress through parliament by breaks in parliament sittings over Brexit, but was expected to pass unopposed.
It comes amid a spike in domestic abuse during the coronavirus lockdown.
Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird told the Commons Justice Committee: "Calls to the helplines have rocketed, complaints to the police have not gone up commensurately but complaints to victims' services clearly have.
"There are real worries about access to any help if you are locked down with the perpetrator in the next room."
