‘A weight’s been lifted’: MP Charlotte Nichols on speaking up about rape trial delays
After a 1,088-day wait, a jury acquitted the man Nichols accused. She describes her experience of the system as a complainant – and explains why she went publicWarning: this article contains graphic testimonyCharlotte Nichols on her rape trial ordeal – podcastSitting in the House of Commons,...
<p>After a 1,088-day wait, a jury acquitted the man Nichols accused. She describes her experience of the system as a complainant – and explains why she went public</p><ul><li><p><strong>Warning: this article contains graphic testimony</strong></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/mar/19/charlotte-nichols-mp-on-her-trial-ordeal-podcast">Charlotte Nichols on her rape trial ordeal – podcast</a></p><p></p></li></ul><p>Sitting in the House of Commons, waiting for the speaker to call her name last week, the MP Charlotte Nichols was doing breathing exercises to try to keep calm. “I was just trying to get myself into the headspace where I could say what I wanted to say without either completely garbling it or just crying or bottling it at the last minute.”</p><p>She didn’t bottle it. She stood up, asked MPs to be gentle with her, and then went public with her biggest secret.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/mar/19/mp-charlotte-nichols-on-speaking-up-about-trial-delays-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>
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